Critical Analysis Essay Grading

NAME:
Rubric

100-90 89-80 79-70 69-60 60- Score

Thesis/Claim

7 - Fair thesis / the explicit thesis is not in 6 - Neither the explicit and implicit
10 - 9 Excellent and well executed, 8 - Good thesis, but it could have been
sync with the implicit thesis / elements of thesis are clear or proven / the thesis is 5 or lower - There is no thesis.
complex thesis. more developed.
the thesis are not fully proven. not analytically based.
Analysis (35%)

4 - Good use of evidence, but there are 3 - There is little use of evidence / there
Evidence

3.5 - There is either an overuse or

Utilized

5 - 4.5 Excellent choice of evidence
utilized.
moments where stronger evidence is an excessive use of evidence / the
underuse of evidence / some of the 2 - No evidence is used.
could've been used / there was a need evidence is not related to the claim
evidence isn't appropriate for the analysis.
for additional backing. being explored.

14 - The discussion of literary elements

16 - Good discussion of literary 12 - There is little exposition exploring
20 - 18 Excellent discussion of literary and the original thesis is fair, but it could
Reasoning &

elements/strategies and use of the evidence in connection to the

Explanation
Analysis of
Evidence/

elements/strategies and use of have been more fully developed / there is

evidence; however, some of your too much reliance on summary / there is thesis/topic of the body paragraphs / 10 - There is no exposition or analysis
evidence. You repeatedly show the
interpretations and explanations need misinterpretation of the evidence / the most of the evidence is misinterpreted / of the evidence and/or thesis.
connection between elements and the
to be more fully developed or need to interpretation of the evidence needed to the interpretation of the evidence is not
original author's thesis.
be expanded. be clearer. clear.
Essay Structure

10 - 9 Excellent balance between
introduction, summary, body,
paragraphs and conclusion.
Essay Structure (25%)
8 - All components of a strong essay
are included; however, there is an
imbalance between 1 - 2 sections.
7 - All components of a strong essay are
6 - 1 - 2 components of the essay are 5 - More than half of the required
included; however, there is an imbalance
missing. components of the essay are missing.
between 3 - 4 sections.

Transitioning
Paragraph

4 - Good transitioning between 3.5 - Fair transitioning between paragraphs

5 - 4.5 Excellent transitioning between 3 - There is little transitioning 1 - There is no transitioning between
paragraphs / some transitions could've -in several areas, the transition is
all essay paragraphs. demonstrated between paragraphs. paragraphs.
been smoother. rough/jarring.
Paragraph

10 - 9 Excellent internal paragraph 8 - Good paragraph flow overall; 7 - Fair paragraph flow overall; however, 2- 6 - In more than half of the paragraphs
Internal

5 - The paragraphs maintain little to no

Flow

flow / strong use of transitional however, 1 - 2 paragraphs have some 3 paragraphs have some awkward there is little clarity/connectivity
clarity and/or connectivity.
phrasing / superior logic flow. awkward phrasing and/or logic. phrasing and/or logic. shown.

6 - There are excessive repetitive

8 - Good overall tone, though some 7 - Fair overall tone, though several
Voice/Originality

phrases and/or words / there is an

Style (10%)

phrases and words are repeated and
10 - 9 Excellent tone and voice / weigh down the voice / there are some
original style / superior word choice. areas where an informal tone is used /
there are several paragraphs where the
voice is flat.
Conventions/Gr
ammar/ Syntax
phrases and words are repeated and weigh
informal tone used throughout / there 5 - The tone is extremely: repetitive,
down the voice / there are several
are strong moments of bias and/or informal, inappropriate, biased, flat,
instances of informal tone / the voice is
offensive language / the and/or offensive.
flat / there are moments of bias and/or
grammar/syntax level compromises the
offensiveness.
tone.

14- There are several consistent errors in 12 - There are excessive errors in two
Areas to Mechanics

20 - 18 Near perfect grammar, 16 - There are minor errors in one or

(20%)

two or more of the areas listed below or more of the areas listed below 10 - There are excessive errors in most
MLA

sentence structure and use of MLA two of the areas listed below, typically
(typically between 8 - 15; however, it (typically between 15 - 20; however, it sentences that compromise clarity.
guide. 5-10.
depends on what kind of errors). depends on what kind of errors).
improve:

MLA Conventions: heading, paper

GRAMMAR & SYNTAX: punctuation usage and identification of independent and dependent clauses (fragments, run-on sentences, comma splices, conjunctive adverbs,
format, internal citation (commas,
coordinating conjunctions, semi-colons and/or colons), missing words, incorrect verb tenses, verb-subject agreement, capitalization, homonyms, spelling, transitional phrasing.
quotations, parenthesis), block quoting.

10 - 9 Excellent revision demonstrated. 7 - While a rough draft is attached, there 6 - While a rough draft is attached,
Revision
Revision

8 - Good revision efforts; however, 5 - there is no material to assess

(10%)

Thoughtful changes have been made / are no serious revision efforts apparent / there are little to no revision efforts
more thoroughness was needed. revision.
most minor errors have been corrected. only minor changes have been made. apparent.

TOTAL: