AXES Paragraph Rubric

5 4
Exceeds
Expectations
Assertion thoroughly
A addresses the prompt.
Assertion makes a
Assertion thoughtful and precise appropriate claim.
claim.
3 2
Meets Approaching
Expectations Expectations
Assertion addresses the Assertion may not fully Assertion does not
prompt. Assertion
makes a clear and
address the prompt.
Assertion may be
obvious or somewhat
unclear.
1 Comments
Developing Below
Needs Work Expectations
Assertion is missing or
address the prompt.
Assertion makes a
off topic. Assertion
does not make a claim
weak or inaccurate relevant to the prompt.
claim.

Examples clearly
X support the assertion
and demonstrate
Examples detailed and insightful understanding of the
understanding of the text. Example may be
text.
Explanation is
E thoroughly developed
and insightfully
Explanation demonstrates how the examples support the
examples support the assertion
assertion.
Paragraph perceptively
S connects the importance
of the argument to the
Examples support the Examples may
assertion and
demonstrate an accurate
somewhat support the
assertion and
demonstrate a basic
understanding of the of the text. Paragraph
obvious. text. Paragraph may
offer too few examples.
Explanation is Explanation attempts to
developed and clearly
demonstrates how the
demonstrate how the
examples prove the
assertion, but may lack assertion. Explanation
development or drift off
topic.
Paragraph connects the Paragraph may attempt
importance of the
argument to authors
to connect the
importance of the
Examples do not Examples do not
support the assertion
and demonstrate
support the assertion
and demonstrate a lack
limited understanding of understanding of the
text. Examples may be
offers too few and/ or missing or off topic.
irrelevant examples.
Explanation does not Explanation does not
demonstrate how the
examples prove the
demonstrate how the
examples prove the
assertion. Explanation
may restate the is missing.
examples, be
irrelevant, or
summarize the plot.
Paragraph does not Significance is
connect the
importance of the
missing.

Significance authors purpose and/ or purpose and/ or modern argument, but argument or is
modern human human experience. connection is irrelevant.
experience. underdeveloped or
unclear.
Conventions Writing demonstrates Writing demonstrates Writing demonstrates Writing demonstrates Writing demonstrates
very few errors. few errors. Vocabulary some errors. Vocabulary many errors that no control.
(Spelling, Usage, Vocabulary and and sentence structure is and sentence structure is interfere with Vocabulary and
Grammar, sentence structure is clear and appropriate to limited and/ or meaning. Vocabulary sentence structure is
varied and the task. repetitive. and sentence structure inappropriate and/ or
Mechanics) sophisticated. is simple and/ or incomprehensible.
inappropriate to the
task.

Revised 1/20/16