Name: ___________________________________ Class Section: ______________________

Academic English, Fall 2015 Final Essay

Topic:______________________________________ Total score: _____________/100

Category

Excellent
(17-20)

Good
(13-16)

Needs improvement
(9-14)

Poor
(0-8)

Preparation:
Outline, Rubric

A full outline was

completed and checked
in class, before the due
date, on THIS paper.

A mostly-finished outline
was completed and
checked in class, before
the due date.

A full outline was

submitted after the due
date.

A mostly-finished
outline was
submitted after the
due date, or no
outline.

Format:
Structure,
Transition Words,
Sentence Length,
Paper Length

Sentences are
complete and of varied
structure. Good
transition words are
used. There are 3-5
complete paragraphs
on only ONE page. (1
sheet of paper)

Some problems with:

sentences (fragments or
run-ons); transition
words; too many or too
few paragraphs; more
than one piece of paper
was used.

Many problems with:

sentences (fragments or
run-ons); transition words;
too many or too few
paragraphs; more than 2
pages were used.

Many sentence
fragments or run-on
sentences, OR
structure needs lots
of work.

Conventions:
Vocabulary,
Punctuation,
Capitalization,
Conjunctions

Uses 5 or more of our

vocabulary words
correctly. Words are
circled, underlined, or in
bold. There are no
errors in conjunctions
(and, so, but),
capitalization, or
punctuation.

Uses 3-4 of our

vocabulary words
correctly. Some errors in
conjunctions (And, So,
But); capitalization or
punctuation.

Uses vocabulary
incorrectly, or only 1-2
words. Many errors in
conjunctions (And, So,
But); capitalization, or
punctuation

Uses vocabulary
incorrectly, or not at
all. Conjunctions,
punctuation and/or
capitalization are not
done correctly.

Ideas and
Organization:
Thesis Sentence,
Supporting Details

Ideas are expressed in a

clear and organized
fashion. The thesis
sentence and supporting
details fit well together.
Examples or stories are
used to illustrate the
main idea.

Ideas are expressed in a

clear manner, but the
organization could have
been better. The thesis
sentence is strong. The
essay contains a mix of
strong and weak
supporting examples.

Ideas are not very clear. It

took more than one
reading to understand the
main point. There are not
many strong examples.
The thesis sentence needs
improvement.

The essay seems to

be a collection of
unrelated sentences.
It is very difficult to
figure out what the
writing is about. The
topic is very weak.

Task completion:
Overall Effect,
Following All
Guidelines

The essay is easy to

understand during the
first reading. There is an
excellent, creative
introduction. The
conclusion is excellent.
There are no significant
errors. The student
follows all guidelines.
It reads easily.

The essay is mostly

easy to understand upon
the first reading, but
contains areas that
could be improved.
There is a good
introduction and
conclusion. The student
generally followed the
assignment guidelines.

The essay is not easily

understood upon first
reading. A second or third
reading is required to
understand the paragraph.
The intro or conclusion is
weak. The student didnt
follow the assignment
guidelines carefully.

The essay is not

able to be
understood, even
after 3 or 4 readings.
There is no real
introduction or
conclusion. The
student didnt follow
the guidelines for the
assignment.

Score/
Comments

****NOTE: Any copied or plagiarized work will receive a score of ZERO (0).
5 vocabulary words used (Unit 8= page 177, Unit 9 = page 201, Unit 10 = page 223):
1._____________________________________________________2.
_____________________________________________________
3.
_____________________________________________________4._________________________________________________
____
5. _____________________________________________________

Name: ___________________________________ Class Section: ______________________

Academic English, Fall 2015 Final Essay

Topic:______________________________________ Total score: _____________/100

Category

Excellent
(17-20)

Good
(13-16)

Needs improvement
(9-14)

Poor
(0-8)

Preparation:
Outline, Rubric

A full outline was

completed and checked
in class, before the due
date, on THIS paper.

A mostly-finished outline
was completed and
checked in class, before
the due date.

A full outline was

submitted after the due
date.

A mostly-finished
outline was
submitted after the
due date, or no
outline.

Format:
Structure,
Transition Words,
Sentence Length,
Paper Length

Sentences are
complete and of varied
structure. Good
transition words are
used. There are 3-5
complete paragraphs
on only ONE page. (1
sheet of paper)

Some problems with:

sentences (fragments or
run-ons); transition
words; too many or too
few paragraphs; more
than one piece of paper
was used.

Many problems with:

sentences (fragments or
run-ons); transition words;
too many or too few
paragraphs; more than 2
pages were used.

Many sentence
fragments or run-on
sentences, OR
structure needs lots
of work.

Conventions:
Vocabulary,
Punctuation,
Capitalization,
Conjunctions

Uses 5 or more of our

vocabulary words
correctly. Words are
circled, underlined, or in
bold. There are no
errors in conjunctions
(and, so, but),
capitalization, or
punctuation.

Uses 3-4 of our

vocabulary words
correctly. Some errors in
conjunctions (And, So,
But); capitalization or
punctuation.

Uses vocabulary
incorrectly, or only 1-2
words. Many errors in
conjunctions (And, So,
But); capitalization, or
punctuation

Uses vocabulary
incorrectly, or not at
all. Conjunctions,
punctuation and/or
capitalization are not
done correctly.

Ideas and
Organization:
Thesis Sentence,
Supporting Details

Ideas are expressed in a

clear and organized
fashion. The thesis
sentence and supporting
details fit well together.
Examples or stories are
used to illustrate the
main idea.

Ideas are expressed in a

clear manner, but the
organization could have
been better. The thesis
sentence is strong. The
essay contains a mix of
strong and weak
supporting examples.

Ideas are not very clear. It

took more than one
reading to understand the
main point. There are not
many strong examples.
The thesis sentence needs
improvement.

The essay seems to

be a collection of
unrelated sentences.
It is very difficult to
figure out what the
writing is about. The
topic is very weak.

Task completion:
Overall Effect,
Following All
Guidelines

The essay is easy to

understand during the
first reading. There is an
excellent, creative
introduction. The
conclusion is excellent.
There are no significant
errors. The student
follows all guidelines.
It reads easily.

The essay is mostly

easy to understand upon
the first reading, but
contains areas that
could be improved.
There is a good
introduction and
conclusion. The student
generally followed the
assignment guidelines.

The essay is not easily

understood upon first
reading. A second or third
reading is required to
understand the paragraph.
The intro or conclusion is
weak. The student didnt
follow the assignment
guidelines carefully.

The essay is not

able to be
understood, even
after 3 or 4 readings.
There is no real
introduction or
conclusion. The
student didnt follow
the guidelines for the
assignment.

Score/
Comments

****NOTE: Any copied or plagiarized work will receive a score of ZERO (0).
5 vocabulary words used (Unit 8= page 177, Unit 9 = page 201, Unit 10 = page 223):
1._____________________________________________________2.
_____________________________________________________
3.
_____________________________________________________4._________________________________________________
____
5. _____________________________________________________

Final Essay Notes:

Topic:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________
Bring your FIRST writing assignment on:
______________________________________________________________
Due date: ________________________________ Time: ____________________________________
This means at the _________________________ of class.
You need to write ________ to_______ paragraphs. Each paragraph should have _______ to _____
sentences, for a total of _______ to ________ sentences.
It should be NO MORE than ______ page (_____ piece of printed paper). Please do not waste trees!!!

You may _________________________ or _________________________________ your final essay.

You may NOT _________________________________ it. Sorry!
The ______________________________________________ is due today:
I.

Introduction paragraph ideas:

II.

Body paragraph(s): (1, 2, or 3):

III.

Conclusion paragraph ideas:

***PLEASE get this checked by Mrs. R. before you leave today!! Thank you!

Final Essay Notes:

Topic:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________
Bring your FIRST writing assignment on:
______________________________________________________________
Due date: ________________________________ Time: ____________________________________
This means at the _________________________ of class.

You need to write ________ to_______ paragraphs. Each paragraph should have _______ to _____
sentences, for a total of _______ to ________ sentences.
It should be NO MORE than ______ page (_____ piece of printed paper). Please do not waste trees!!!

You may _________________________ or _________________________________ your final essay.

You may NOT _________________________________ it. Sorry!
The ______________________________________________ is due today:
I.

Introduction paragraph ideas:

II.

Body paragraph(s): (1, 2, or 3):

III.

Conclusion paragraph ideas:

***PLEASE get this checked by Mrs. R. before you leave today!! Thank you!