Scoring Guide for Common Essay Assessment
Revised 1/13/2000

A Papers will include the following:

1. Introduction develops a significant and compelling position.
2. Support uses appropriate patterns of development.
3. Each aspect of argument relates to thesis, providing coherence and continuity.
4. Potential objections to argument (refutation) are raised and answered by writer.
5. Resource material is acknowledged and integrated logically.
6. Conclusion is compelling / encourages action / makes suggestions or prediction.
7. Sentences are well formed and vary in length and type.
8. Paper exhibits superior grammar, punctuation and spelling.

B Papers will include the following:

1. Introduction develops a clearly stated position.
2. Patterns of development used for support and the style are not necessarily appropriate.
3. Each aspect of argument is present, but the writer may not have shown connection to thesis.
4. Refutation lacks sincerity and may not answer objections to the argument.
5. Resource material is acknowledged but may not be logically integrated into text.
6. Conclusion may lack compelling elements of an A paper.
7. Sentences vary in length and type
8. Paper exhibits adequate control of grammar, punctuation and spelling.

C Papers will include the following:

1. Introduction is evident, but position may not be clearly stated.
2. Support for argument is logical, but pattern of development is simplistic.
3. Some aspects of argument do not relate to thesis.
4. Refutation is evident, but incomplete.
5. Material from outside sources is evident, but not necessarily acknowledged.
6. Conclusion ends abruptly or simply restates position.
7. Sentences do not vary in length and type.
8. Paper exhibits some control of grammar, punctuation and spelling.

D / F Papers will  include the following:

1. Introduction is vague or fails to establish a position that responds to the topic.
2. Body is too brief to develop a convincing argument.
3. Essay lacks focus and tends to wander
4. Refutation of opposing views is absent.
5. Outside sources are not acknowledged and/or used.
6. Conclusion is missing or incomplete.
7. Sentences may not be complete and show no understanding of variety.
8. Paper exhibits little control of grammar, punctuation and spelling.