English 1A

Grading Criteria for Essays #2 & #3

1. Contextualization of the Question at Issue and Presentation of the Thesis                                                                                10%

1. Does the introduction provide necessary background information and clearly identify a question at issue? 
2. Does the thesis express an arguable judgment on a relevant topic?
3. Is the thesis focused?
4. Is the thesis clearly worded?
5. Is the thesis placed somewhere early in the essay?
6. Is the thesis easy to identify?

2. Focus and Arrangement of Ideas                                                                                                                                                       10%

1. Are the ideas clearly and logically arranged to facilitate easy reading?
2. Are the transitions between paragraphs smooth and logical?
3. Are the transitions between sentences smooth and logical?
4.  Is each body paragraph focused on just one idea?
5. Is the main idea of each body paragraph easy to identify?
6. Does each body paragraph clearly connect to and support the thesis?
7. Do all the sentences in each paragraph clearly connect to the paragraph’s main idea?

3.Consideration of the Issue's Complexity                                                                                                                                         10%

1. Does the essay avoid unsupported assumptions and gross generalizations?

2. Does the essay demonstrate that the writer has carefully and honestly thought about the issue and the positions of the participants in the debate?

3. Does the essay delve beyond the obvious and easily understood and grapple with the complexities of the conflict?

4. Development and Use of Detail                                                                                                                                                      15%

Does the essay provide specific details, clear explanations, and helpful illustrations and examples that support the judgment expressed in the thesis?

5. Use of Evidence                                                                                                                                                                                15%

Does the essay provide clear, specific, verifiable, reputable evidence to support the claim and show that the writer's ideas and insights are "grounded" in reality?

6. Logic and Critical Thinking                                                                                                                                                             15%

1. Does the essay use sound logic to make connections and support judgments?   
2. Does the essay clearly explain the grounds for the specific position taken?  In other words, has the writer explained why he or she believes as he or she does?

7.       Source Use and Documentation                                                                                                                                            15%

1. Does the essay correctly reference appropriate outside sources (the majority of which found via CR subscription databases)?
2. Does the essay effectively integrate words and ideas from appropriate sources to support, illustrate, and/or develop ideas?
3. Are sources accurately quoted, correctly cited in the text of the essay, and correctly documented on the works cited page?
4. Do the quotes logically relate the ideas in the paragraph?
5. Are quotes woven into the writer’s own words (in other words, are there no freestanding quotes?)?
6. Are quotes punctuated correctly?
7. Are titles of articles, chapters, and essays in quotation marks?  Are titles of books, magazines, and newspapers italicized?

8. Clarity of Expression and Surface Features                                                                                                                                   10%

a.        Do the essay’s margins, font, page numbering, title, and heading adhere to MLA conventions?

b.       Does the essay use correct punctuation, grammar, and spelling to facilitate easy reading?

c.       Are the sentences clearly and logically worded?

d.      Are there a minimum of sentence boundary errors (i.e. fragments, fused sentences, and comma splices)?

e.      Does the essay deal with the subject in the mature, intelligent, intellectually honest manner an academic audience expects?