OUTCOME Superior (4)
Clear Argument -Argument is clear and
(Thesis) concise
-Reader knows exactly what
to expect and how it will be
delivered
Valid evidence to -Evidence cited from a
support argument variety of valid sources
-Meaning can be extrapolated
from evidence and is clearly
laid out by the author
-References are listed
correctly
Writing style -Body of work is organized
and flows well from one point
to another
-Points connect from previous
paragraphs to build up the
argument
-Paper is properly formatted
Strong conclusion -Conclusion does more than
that drives home the restate the thesis; it builds
point upon it using the points made
in the body of work
-Good payoff
Spelling, grammar, -No spelling or grammar
command of issues
language
-Tone is appropriate for
academic paper
-No slang is used
Good (3)
-Argument is clear but
could be more concise
-Reader has a decent idea
of what to expect
-Reader has an OK idea of
how the argument will be
delivered
-Evidence cited from valid
sources but lacking variety
-Meaning is implied from
evidence, but is not laid
out by the author
-References have one or
two errors with regards to
formatting
-Body of work is organized
and flows decently
-Points could use more
connection to previous
paragraphs
-Paper has a few
formatting errors
-Conclusion does more
than restate the thesis
-Conclusion builds up
arguments made in the
paper, but the payoff could
use improvement
- A few spelling and
grammatical errors
-Tone is appropriate for
academic paper
-No slang is used
Needs work (2)
-Argument could be more
clear and concise
-Reader knows the subject
of the paper, but otherwise
does not know what to
expect
-Evidence cited from
multiple invalid or highly
biased sources
-Evidence has little
relevance to the point
being made or question
being argued
-Reference have multiple
formatting errors
-Body has little
organization or flow;
“choppy”
-Paragraphs stand alone
with no connection to one
another
-Many formatting errors
-Conclusion simply
restates the thesis
-Slightly references the
points made in the paper
-No payoff to the
conclusion
-Spelling and grammar
errors are present
-Tone is a little too casual
for an academic paper
-Some slang used
Inadequate (1) Absent (0)
-Argument is unclear -No argument stated by
author
-Reader does not know
the point of the paper
-Simply a recitation of
facts or numbers
-Evidence comes - No evidence cited
exclusively from one
source that is highly -Nothing used to support
biased or invalid opinions held
-Evidence has no -No reference list
meaning or relevance
-No references listed
-Writing has no -Nothing turned in
organization and is
choppy
-No connections
present; much of the
writing is pointless
-Not at all formatted
properly
-Conclusion has -No conclusion present
nothing to do with
thesis or argument
-Conclusion does not
reference body of
evidence at all
-Excessive number of -Not present
spelling and
grammatical errors
-Tone is inappropriate
-Excessive use of
slang