ENGLISH COMPETENCY EXAMS
AT COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS

English 150

English 150 is scored on a five point rubric, which corresponds to the typical letter grades A-F, with five being an A and one being an F.   Each essay is read at least twice, and when instructors disagree by one point, a third reader is brought in to resolve the difference.  Student essays have names covered for fairness during readings and essays are broken out of class sets, so instructors do not know whose essay they are scoring. The rubric is provided below:

RUBRIC FOR ENGLISH 150 COMPETENCY ESSAY

5

-- Fully and thoughtfully addresses the topic

-- Thesis and topic sentences venture thoughtful judgments about topic

-- Paragraphs are very well developed and organized

-- Transitions are logical and smooth within and between paragraphs

-- Sentences demonstrate both clarity and variety

                -- Nearly flawless mechanically

4

-- Fully addresses the topic

-- Thesis and topic sentences venture a judgment

-- Paragraphs well developed and organized

-- Transitions are less smooth than 5

-- Sentences are clear and but less varied than 5

                -- Few major and/or minor sentence errors occur

3

-- Adequately addresses the topic

-- Though thesis ventures a judgment, topic sentences may not venture a judgment

-- Paragraphs are only adequately developed, and/or loosely organized

-- Transitions are present but inconsistent

-- Little attempt at sentence variety

-- Major and/or minor sentence errors begin to affect clarity

2

-- Intermittently addresses the topic

-- Thesis and topic sentences lack judgment--tend to be statements of fact

-- Paragraphs are poorly developed and/or poorly organized

-- Transitions are minimal

-- No attempt at sentence variety

-- Major and/or minor sentence errors disrupt communication

1

--Glancingly addresses the topic

--Thesis and topic sentences are not identifiable

--Paragraphs lack development and organization

--Transitions axe missing

--No attempt at sentence variety

--Major and minor sentence errors destroy communication

______________________________________________

- Does not address topic