Academy of Science, ANU

Photo by Lesley A Butler

DKLS Linguistic Ambassador Award

Online Writing
Course
Main Sponsor:
DKL

FOUNDATION

Supported by:

CSR Partners:

Descriptive
ESSAY RUBIC

Your essay will be graded based on this rubric. Consequently, use this rubric as a guide when writing your
essay and check it again before you submit your entry for the competition.

Descriptors
Introduction

Excellent (4)
Introductory

paragraph

Good (3)
Introductory

paragraph

Satisfactory (2)
Introductory

Needs Improvement (1)

paragraph

No attempt is made to

clearly states subject of

states subject of the es-

attempts to state subject

state subject of the es-

the essay and captures

say, but is not particularly

of the essay, but does not

say in introductory para-

inviting to the reader.

capture the readers at-

graph.

readers attention.

tention.

Ideas

- The essay provides a

- The essay provides a

- The essay provides an

- The essay provides a

clear and thoroughly writ-

clearly written picture of

adequate written picture

somewhat incomplete

ten picture of

the subject.

of the subject, but it may

written picture of

the subject.

- The sensory details pre-

be somewhat imprecise.

the subject.

- The sensory details pre-

sented in the essay are

- Sensory details are pre-

- Some sensory details

sented in the essay are

adequately

sented in the essay, but

are presented in the es-

vivid and fully elaborat-

to help the reader see,

may not be vivid

say, but some important

ed to help the reader see,

hear, smell, taste, or touch

or complete.

details are missing.

hear, smell, taste, or touch

what is being described.

elaborated

what is being described.

dklsaward.english.com.my

Descriptive
ESSAY RUBIC
Organization

Conclusion

- The essay presents the

- The essay presents the

- The essay presents the

- The subject is presented

subject with perfect clar-

subject clearly.

subject adequately, but is

in a less than satisfying or

ity.

- The focus is effective

vague at times.

clear way.

- The focus is highly ef-

throughout the essay.

- The focus is acceptable

- The focus wanders at

fective throughout

- Transitions from detail

throughout the essay but

times.

essay.

to detail are used.

could be sharper.

- Transitions from detail

- Transitions provide a

- Sentences and para-

- Transitions from detail

to detail are rarely used.

continuous

graphs flow smoothly to-

to detail are not used

- Sentences and para-

from detail to detail.

gether to form an identi-

consistently.

graphs may not flow to-

- Sentences and para-

fiable style

- Sentences and para-

gether.

the

progression

graphs flow smoothly to-

graphs flow together but

gether to form a unified

may not form an identifi-

and creative style.

able style.

- The conclusion very ef-

- The conclusion ade-

- The conclusion partial-

- The conclusion is less

fectively wraps up the es-

quately wraps up the es-

ly wraps up the essay, but

than

say.

say.

not complete.

does not really wrap up

satisfactory

and

the essay.

Word choice /
Sentence structure

The word choice is excep-

The word choice is gener-

The word choice is mostly

Word choices are gener-

tionally precise and accu-

ally precise and accurate

precise and accurate, but

ally not precise or accu-

rate, even artistic,

throughout the essay.

not throughout the essay.

rate.

dklsaward.english.com.my

Descriptive
ESSAY RUBIC

throughout the essay.

- Sentences rarely varied

- Sentences rarely some-

- Sentences rarely vary in

- Sentences rarely varied

in length and structure.

what varied in length and

length and structure.

structure.

inventively in length and

structure.

Mechanics

-Almost all words are

- Some spelling errors oc-

- Some spelling errors

- Spelling errors impede

spelled correctly.

cur, but not enough to im-

may impede understand-

understanding.

- The essay contains al-

pede understanding.

ing.

most no errors in English

contains

- Errors in usage or gram-

numerous errors in usage

usage or grammar.

some errors in usage or

mar may impede under-

or grammar.

- The essay contains al-

grammar, but not

standing at times.

most no errors in punctu-

enough to impede

- Errors in punctuation

ation

ation and no

understanding.

may impede understand-

understanding and dia-

ing at times,

logue is very difficult to

errors

with

quotation

The

The

essay

essay

contains

The

essay

Errors

contains

in

punctu-

often

impede

marks in dialogue.

some errors in punctua-

and dialogue may be un-

follow.

- The essay contains al-

tion, but not enough to

clear.

- The essay contains nu-

most no errors in capital-

impede understanding.

- Errors in capitalization

merous errors in capitali-

ization.

- The essay contains a

may intrude on under-

zation.

few errors in capitaliza-

standing.

tion.

dklsaward.english.com.my