Mechanics – 35 Points

EXPERT (32-35 points): Minimal or no spelling/grammatical errors. Word choice establishes authority and a scholarly, professional tone.

ACCOMPLISHED (28-31 points): Several spelling/grammatical errors, but errors do not obscure the writer’s meaning. Minor improvement needed in word choice and/or tone.

CAPABLE (25-30 points): Many spelling/grammatical errors that distract somewhat from the writer’s meaning. Improvement needed in word choice and/or tone.

BEGINNER (21-24 points): Numerous spelling/grammatical errors obscure the writer’s meaning. There are some word choice errors and/or a scholarly tone is not maintained throughout.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT (0-21): Significant spelling/grammatical errors obscure the writer’s meaning. Multiple word choice errors, and the essay lacks a scholarly tone.

Formatting – 25 Points

EXPERT (23-25 points): Essay is in MLA format and is 1 1/2 to 2 pages in length.

ACCOMPLISHED (20-22 points): Minimal MLA formatting errors but meets minimum length requirement.

CAPABLE (18-19 points): Some MLA formatting errors and/or is only 1 page long.

BEGINNER (15-17 points): Numerous formatting errors and/or is only 1 page long.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT (0-14): Significant formatting errors and/or is less than 1 page long.

Critical Thinking – 45 Points

EXPERT (41-45 points): The writing prioritizes important points rather than minor details and condenses complex ideas without oversimplifying.

ACCOMPLISHED (36-40 points): The writing mostly focuses on important points and attempts to condense complex ideas without oversimplifying.

CAPABLE (32-35 points): The writing struggles to distinguish between important and minor points and exhibits some oversimplification.

BEGINNER (27-31 points): The writing fails to identify important points and either oversimplifies or overcomplicates the source materials.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT (0-26): The writing does not prioritize important points and may be overly simplistic.

Organization – 50 Points

EXPERT (45-50 points): Intro contains a thesis statement, body paragraphs are unified & fully developed, concl. reinforces the thesis. Essay follows the correct organizational pattern.

ACCOMPLISHED (40-44 points): Intro contains identifiable thesis statement, most body paragraphs are unified and adequately developed, concl. restates the thesis. Essay generally follows correct organizational pattern.

CAPABLE (35-39 points): Intro contains a weak or unclear thesis statement, inconsistently unified &/or developed body paragraphs, concl. partially relates to the main idea. Essay inconsistently follows the correct organizational pattern.

BEGINNER (30-34 points): Intro attempts a thesis statement but it lacks clarity, body paragraphs show limited unity &/or insufficient development, concl. is minimally connected to main idea. Inconsistent organization.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT (25-29): Thesis indiscernible, body paragraphs lack development, concl. missing/incomplete. Essay lacks organization.

Content – 45 Points

EXPERT (41-45 points): The writing has an appropriate focus on main ideas and includes supporting points. The summary accurately identifies the writer's message and support for that message, while remaining objective and concise.

ACCOMPLISHED (36-40 points): Most main ideas identified with relevant support. Captures primary message with general objectivity and conciseness.

CAPABLE (32-35 points): Some main ideas recognized but may emphasize minor points. Partially captures message and/or inconsistent objectivity and/or concise.

BEGINNER (27-31 points): Misidentifies main ideas and support. Incompletely identifies message and/or has limited objectivity and/or has limited conciseness.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT (0-26): Main ideas not identified. Writer's message unclear and/or lacks objectivity and/or is not concise.