CATEGORY 4 - Above Standards 3 - Meets Standards 2 - Approaching Standards 1 - Below Standards Score

Grammar & Author makes no Author makes 1-2 Author makes 3-4 errors in Author makes more
Spelling errors in grammar errors in grammar grammar or spelling that than 4 errors in
or spelling that or spelling that distract the reader from grammar or spelling
distract the reader distract the reader the content. that distract the
from the content. from the content. reader from the
content.
Sources All sources used for All sources used for Most sources used for Many sources are
quotes, statistics quotes, statistics quotes, statistics and facts suspect (not
and facts are and facts are are credible and cited credible) AND/OR
credible and cited credible and most correctly. are not cited
correctly. are cited correctly. correctly.
Support for Includes 4 or more Includes 3 or more Includes 2 pieces of Includes 1 or fewer
Position pieces of evidence pieces of evidence evidence (facts, statistics, pieces of evidence
(facts, statistics, (facts, statistics, examples, real-life (facts, statistics,
examples, real-life examples, real-life experiences) that support examples, real-life
experiences) that experiences) that the position statement. experiences).
support the position support the position
statement. The statement.
writer anticipates
the reader's
concerns, biases or
arguments and has
provided at least 1
counter-argument.

Graphs All of the evidence Most of the At least one of the pieces Evidence and
and examples are evidence and of evidence and examples examples are NOT
specific, relevant examples are is relevant and has an relevant AND/OR
and explanations specific, relevant explanation that shows are not explained.
are given that show and explanations how that piece of
how each piece of are given that show evidence supports the
evidence supports how each piece of author\'s position.
the author\'s evidence supports
position. the author\'s
position.
Conclusion The conclusion is The conclusion is The author\'s position is There is no
strong and leaves recognizable. The restated within the closing conclusion - the
the reader solidly author\'s position is paragraph, but not near paper just ends.
understanding the restated within the the beginning.
writer\'s position. first two sentences
Effective of the closing
restatement of the paragraph.
position statement
begins the closing
paragraph.