High Score (8-9)
High-scoring essays thoroughly address
all the tasks of the essay prompt in well-organized responses. The writing
demonstrates stylistic sophistication and control over the elements of
effective writing, although it is not necessarily faultless. Overall,
high-scoring essays present thoroughly developed, intelligent ideas; sound and
logical organization; strong evidence; and articulate diction.
·
Rhetorical
analysis essays demonstrate significant understanding of the passage, its intent,
and the rhetorical strategies the author employs.
·
Argument essays
demonstrate the ability to construct a compelling argument, observing the
author's underlying assumptions, (addressing multiple authors in the synthesis
essay) and discussing many sides of the issues with appropriate evidence.
Medium-High Score (6-7)
Medium-scoring essays complete the
tasks of the essay topic well - they show some insight but usually with less
precision and clarity than high-scoring essays. There may be lapses in correct
diction or sophisticated language, but the essay is generally well written.
·
Rhetorical
analysis essays demonstrate sufficient examination of the author's point and
the rhetorical strategies he uses to enhance the central idea.
·
Argument essays
demonstrate the ability to construct an adequate argument, understand the
author's point, and discuss its implications with suitable evidence. The
synthesis argument will address at least three of the sources.
Medium Score (5)
Essays that earn a medium score complete
the essay task, but with no special insights; the analysis lacks depth and
merely states the obvious. Frequently, the ideas are predictable and the
paragraph development weak. Although the writing conveys the writer's ideas,
they are presented simplistically and often contain lapses in diction or
syntax.
·
Rhetorical
analysis essays demonstrate uneven or insufficient understanding of how
rhetorical strategies create an author's point. Often, the writer merely lists
what he or she observes in the passage instead of analyzing effect.
·
Argument essays
demonstrate the ability to present an argument, but they frequently provide
limited and inadequate discussion, explanation, or evidence for the writer's
ideas. The writer may not address enough of the sources in the synthesis essay.
Oversimplification of the issue(s) minimizes the essay's effectiveness.
Medium-Low Score (3-4)
These essays are weaker than the 5
score because the writer overlooks or perhaps misreads important ideas in the
passage. The student may summarize the
passage's ideas instead of analyzing them. Although the writer's ideas are
generally understandable, the control of language is often immature.
·
Rhetorical
analysis essays demonstrate little discussion of rhetorical strategies or
incorrect identification and/or analysis of those strategies.
·
Argument essays
demonstrate little ability to construct an argument. They may not clearly
identify the author's point, may not present multiple authors' points of view
in the synthesis essay, and may offer little evidence for the student's
position.
Low Score (1-2)
These essays demonstrate minimal
understanding of the topic or the passage. Perhaps unfinished, these essays
offer no analysis of the passage and little or no evidence for the student's
ideas. Incorrect assertions may be made about the passage. Stylistically, these
essays may show consistent grammatical problems, and sentence structure is
usually simple and unimaginative.
·
Rhetorical
analysis essays demonstrate little ability to identify or analyze rhetorical
strategies. Sometimes these essays misread the prompt and replace it with
easier tasks, such as paraphrasing the passage or listing some strategies the
author uses.
·
Argument essays
demonstrate little ability to understand the author's point (or multiple
authors in the synthesis essay) and then construct an argument that analyzes
it. Minimal or nonexistent evidence hurts the essay's effectiveness. Some
students may substitute an easier task by presenting tangential or irrelevant
ideas, evidence, or explanation.
