Reaction Paper Rubric

CRITERIA Performance Criteria and Range of Scores

0 1 3 4
Question
Focus and
Completion

The writer wrote about
the wrong question
and/or the answer is
not 5 paragraphs long.
The writer mentions the
prompt but DOES NOT
maintain a focus on
assigned question
throughout their answer
and/or did not address all
aspects of the question.
The answer is at least 5
paragraphs long.
The writer MAINTAINS A
FOCUS on the assigned
question for the majority
of their answer and
addressed all aspects of
the question. The answer
is at least 5 paragraphs
long.
The writer MAINTAINS
A CLEAR FOCUS on the
assigned question
throughout the ENTIRE
answer and addressed
all aspects of the
question. The answer
is at least 5 paragraphs
long.
Complexity
of Response


The essay does NOT
SHOW ANY
understanding of the
complexity of the issues
related to the question
by not examining
different perspectives,
or evaluating
implications or
complications of the
issue at all in their
essay.
Their answer shows
LITTLE understanding of
the complexity of the
issues related to question
by examining different
perspectives, or evaluating
implications or
complications of the issue
less than once in each body
paragraph.
The essay shows
CONSISTENT
understanding of the
complexity of the issues
related to the question by
examining different
perspectives, or
evaluating implications or
complications of the issue
at least once in each body
paragraph.
The essay shows
CONSISTENT and
EXCEPTIONAL
understanding of the
complexity of the
issues related to the
question by examining
different perspectives,
or evaluating
implications or
complications of the
issue more than once in
each body paragraph.
Addressing
the counter-
argument
Counter-argument is
NOT ADDRESSED or
makes little sense.
Address of the counter-
argument is ATTEMPTED
BUT NEEDS
IMPROVEMENT: it is not
logically placed; and the
argument is not well-
developed and connected
to the overall thesis.
Address of the counter-
argument is SUFFICIENT,
though may be lacking in
one area: it is not logically
placed; or the argument is
not well-developed and
connected to the overall
thesis.
Address of the counter-
argument is SUPERIOR
through logical
placement and a
thoroughly developed
argument that supports
the overall thesis.
Use of
Evidence
and
Citations

The writer DOES NOT
use evidence in their
answer to prove their
point.
The essay SOMEWHAT
develops ideas by making
vague reference to
evidence and/or does not
correctly cite sources.
The answer
CONSISTENTLY develops
ideas by using evidence
and consistently cites
sources correctly at least
once in each body
paragraph.
The essay SUPURBLY
develops ideas by using
evidence and
consistently cites
sources correctly at
least twice in each
body paragraph.
Language
Conventions

More than 1/2 of their
answer makes LITTLE
TO NO SENSE the way
it is currently written.
Their answer DOES NOT
show effective use of
language by correctly
employing most
conventions of standard
English grammar, usage,
and mechanics, with
constant errors. These
errors impede
understanding.
Their answer shows
EFFECTIVE USE of
language by-correctly
employing most
conventions of standard
English grammar, usage,
and mechanics, with some
errors;-using precise and
varied vocabulary;-using
some varied sentence
structure; and-avoiding
the first person.
Their answer shows
MASTERY of language
by-correctly employing
most conventions of
standard English
grammar, usage, and
mechanics, with just a
few, if any, errors;-
using precise and
varied vocabulary;-
using a variety of
sentence structures to
vary pace and support
meaning; and-avoiding
the first person.
0 1 3 4
Addressing
the counter-
argument
Counter-argument is
NOT ADDRESSED or
makes little sense.
Address of the counter-
argument is ATTEMPTED
BUT NEEDS
IMPROVEMENT: it is not
logically placed; and the
argument is not well-
developed and connected
to the overall thesis.
Address of the counter-
argument is SUFFICIENT,
though may be lacking in
one area: it is not logically
placed; or the argument is
not well-developed and
connected to the overall
thesis.
Address of the counter-
argument is SUPERIOR
through logical
placement and a
thoroughly developed
argument that supports
the overall thesis.













4
Counter-argument is SUPERIOR
through logical placement, and a
thoroughly developed argument
that supports the overall thesis.




















How many sentences should you
write in order to thoroughly
develop your argument? What parts
of PEEE should you include?

Where should you place your counter-
argument? What are some transitional
words and phrases you could use?

What does supports the overall thesis mean?
How does a 3 differ from a 4?