Social Studies Essay Rubric
Teacher: Ms. Pugh Name:________________________________________________ HR_____________
Due Date: March 22
4 - Excellent
of View Knowledg
* Demonstrates a detailed
understanding of key question
e and
* Makes deep, meaningful
connections between support
and arguments
Understan
* Demonstrates sensitivity and
ding
understanding for people with
different perspectives
* Clearly states and supports
Points
own opinion throughout essay
* Critically examines reasons
to support chosen opinion
Critical Thinking
* Paraphrases excellently
* Uses detailed information to
Research &
support complex arguments
* Selects a variety of specific
sources and cites them in
bibliography
Communication
* Organizes information in a
logical and easy to read
manner
* Mature use of social studies
vocabulary
* Edits thoroughly
* Arguments and supporting
evidence are clearly connected
to the thesis
Comments:
3 Good 2 - Basic 1- Not yet Score
meeting
* Demonstrates a clear * Demonstrates some * Struggles to
understanding of key question understanding of key demonstrate
* Makes clear connections question understanding of
between support and arguments * Makes some key question
* Sufficiently links arguments to connections between * Does not make a
* Often demonstrates sensitivity * Demonstrates an * Does not
and understanding for people awareness for people with demonstrate
with different perspectives different perspectives sensitivity to other
* States and supports own * At times waivers from perspectives
opinion throughout most of the opinion * Opinion unclear
essay * Mentions reasons to * Struggles to find
* Explores reasons to support support chosen opinion reasons
chosen opinion in some detail
* Efficiently paraphrases * Some effort made to * Plagiarism
information paraphrase * Information is
* Uses information to support * Information used is lacking/is not
thoughtful arguments somewhat related to connected to thesis
* Selects reliable sources and arguments * Does not use
cites them in bibliography * Selects limited sources sources/does not
and cites common cite them
*sources
* Mostly organizes information in Information is somewhat * Information is
a logical manner organized disorganized
* Often uses social studies * Sometimes uses social * No use of vocab
vocabulary studies vocabulary * Many errors
* Edits carefully, with few errors * Edits but may miss some * Arguments and
* Arguments and supporting errors evidence not
evidence are connected to the * Some arguments and connected to thesis
thesis evidence are connected to
the thesis