Rubric Understanding

FocusAddresses all aspects of prompt appropriately

maintains a strongly developed focus.

A B C D

Focus

Addresses all aspects of prompt appropriately maintains a strongly developed focus.

Look for:*Thesis statement gives a basic answer to the question in the prompt. (3 elements in the stories that address a specific, common theme).*Every part of the paper is supporting some part of the thesis.

Highlight It!

• Highlight the thesis statement in your paper.

Controlling Idea“Maintaining Throughout”

Controlling Idea

• Establishes a strong controlling idea with a clear purpose maintained throughout the response.

Look For:*Has a strong thesis statement*Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence that connects to the thesis. (mentions a specific element and connects it to the theme.)*Each example and each piece of commentary supports the thesis in some way. (example of a literary element and how it supports the common theme).

Reading/ Research

• Accurately presents information relevant to all parts of the prompt with effective selection of sources and details from reading materials.

• Look For:• Each example helps answer the prompt. (evidence of literary

elements that develop a common theme).• Each example is accurate (it actually is the literary element

you say it is.)• There is enough textual evidence to strongly support your

point.{ 2 to 4 pieces (direct or indirect quotes) per paragraph}

Rubric UnderstandingReading/Research

Scoring Element 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

Reading/ Research

Attempts to reference reading

materials to develop response,

but lacks connections or relevance to the purpose of the

prompt.

Presents information from reading materials

relevant to the purpose of the prompt with

minor lapses in accuracy or

completeness.

Accurately presents details from reading

materials relevant to the purpose of

the prompt to develop argument

or claim.

Accurately and effectively presents

important details from reading materials to develop argument or

claim.

How does the student transfer relevant content from the reading materials to the writing product?

Highlight It!

• Highlight the textual evidence in your paper.

Development

• Presents thorough and detailed information to strongly support the focus and controlling idea.

• Look For:• Each example is followed by enough

commentary to explain how that example helps answer the thesis. (1-2 sentences of commentary after every example).

Highlight It!

• Highlight the commentary in your paper.

Rubric UnderstandingDevelopment

Scoring Element 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

Development

Attempts to provide details in response to the

prompt, but lackssufficient

development or relevance to the purpose of the

prompt.(L3) Makes no

connections or a connection that is

irrelevant to argument or claim.

Presents appropriate details to support and

develop the focus, controlling idea, or claim, with minor

lapses in the reasoning, examples, or explanations.(L3) Makes a

connection with a weak or unclear relationship to argument or claim.

Presents appropriate and sufficient details to

support and develop the focus, controlling idea, or

claim. (L3) Makes a relevant connection to clarify argument or claim.

Presents thorough and detailed information to effectively support and

develop the focus, controlling idea, or claim.

(L3) Makes a clarifying connection(s) that

illuminates argument and adds depth to reasoning.

How thoroughly does the student provide and explain details in support of the controlling idea?

Organization

• Maintains an organizational structure that intentionally and effectively enhances the presentation of information as required by the specific prompt.

• Look For:• Paper is organized into paragraphs• Thesis Statement that is correctly formatted and is in the last

sentence of the first paragraph.• Topic sentences at the beginning of each body paragraph.• Transitions between the body paragraphs.• Transitions between pieces of textual evidence within a paragraph.• Order of the paragraphs match order of thesis.• Transitions used highlight the purpose of the prompt (comparison

transitions used).

Organization

Transition words:• Comparison/contrast order. Words used in

expository writing to signal similarities and differences.

• Ex. (for similarities) also, additionally, just as, as if, as though, like, and similarly; and (for differences) but, yet, only, although, whereas, in contrast, conversely, however, on the other hand, rather, instead, in spite of, and nevertheless.

Conventions

• Demonstrates and maintains a well-developed command of standard English conventions and cohesion, with few errors. Response includes language and tone consistently appropriate to the audience, purpose, and specific requirements of the prompt. Consistently cites sources using an appropriate format.

Conventions

• Demonstrates and maintains a well-developed command of standard English conventions and cohesion, with few errors.

• Look For:• No capitalization errors.• No fragmented sentences.• No run-on sentences.• Commas, semi colons, and colons are used correctly.• Quotes are properly embedded.• No spelling errors.

Conventions

• Response includes language and tone consistently appropriate to the audience, purpose, and specific requirements of the prompt.

• Look for:• No personal pronouns• More academic vocabulary• Tone is scholarly instead of conversational

Conventions

• Consistently cites sources using an appropriate format.

• Look for:• Uses in-text citations (Collins 11) after every

piece of textual evidence or info from an outside source.

• Includes a bibliography page that follows the MLA format.

Fix it!

• Use your pencils to go back in your paper and correct the embedding of quotes.

Content Understanding

• Integrates relevant and accurate disciplinary content with thorough explanations that demonstrate in-depth understanding.

• Look for:• Examples are accurate (literary elements are

correctly identified in each example).• Your explanations show that you really get how

the examples show your theme.