Name: ______________________________________________ Score: _________________________________

Argumentative Essay Rubric

Criteria Expert (4) Practitioner (3) Apprentice (2) Novice (1)

Focus (3) All details are evidence Most details are evidence Some details are None of the details are
based and relevant (help based and relevant (help evidence based and evidence based and
to support claim) to support claim) relevant relevant

Lead/Introduction and Expertly engages the Effectively informs the Writer attempts an Argumentative text is
Conclusion (3) reader by crafting an reader by stating the introduction and lacking both an
introduction with a claim in the introduction conclusion but essential introduction and a
clearly stated claim component(s) are missing conclusion
AND
AND OR
Effectively summarizes
Expertly crafts a the main points of the Informational text lacks
conclusion that informational text, in the an introduction or a
summarizes the main conclusion conclusion
points of the paper
Organization (3) Includes well-sequenced, Includes sequenced Some paragraphs lack Writing lacks
indented paragraphs paragraphs (topic essential components organization
(topic sentence, detail sentence, detail Some transitional Transitional
sentences with sentences with words/phrases/ words/phrases/
explanations, closing explanations, closing sentences are used sentences are NOT used
sentence) sentence) correctly correctly
Many transitions Most transitions
(words/phrases/ (words/phrases/
sentences) are used sentences) are used
correctly correctly
Development/Elaboration (3)
Includes a counterclaim
Sentence Structure (1)
Word Choice (1)
Usage of Grade Level
Grammar/Mechanics/
Spelling (2)
All pieces of evidence
from the text are well
developed and either
paraphrased or quoted
and rebuttal in one part
of the argumentative
text that makes the
argument stronger
Consistently uses varied
sentence structure (ex.
simple, complex,
compound)
Uses higher-level
vocabulary which adds
interest throughout the
writing
Errors made are minimal
which result in a fluid
essay that is easy to
read and understand
Most pieces of evidence Some pieces of evidence Evidence is not further
are further developed are further developed developed or most/all
and either paraphrased and/or some are copied evidence used is copied
or quoted from the text from the text
Includes a counterclaim (plagiarized) (plagiarized)
and rebuttal in one part Does not include a Does not include a
of the argumentative counterclaim and counterclaim and
text rebuttal in one part of rebuttal in one part of
the argumentative text the argumentative text
Sometimes uses varied Uses simple sentences Writing contains
sentence structure (ex. fragments and/or
simple, complex, run-ons
compound)
Uses grade-level Uses some grade-level Does not use grade-level
vocabulary correctly vocabulary correctly vocabulary correctly
throughout the writing
Few errors made that Many errors made, some The errors made impact
impact meaning of the which impact meaning meaning of the entire
essay and make it easy and make the essay hard essay and make it
to read and understand to read and understand difficult to read and
in certain areas understand