DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH/ESSAY

MARKING CRITERIA EBAU 2020

- Answers longer than 175 words will be corrected and
- Essays/Paragraphs which do not describe will be scored with 0 marks for lack of task accomplishment.
marked normally up to the first end-of-sentence after the
“O marks. Task not accomplished” will be written below the candidate’s answer on the answer sheet.
175 words.
- (For example, the candidate is asked “describe your mother” and, instead, the candidate narrates an
- The exceeding part of the answer will not be considered by
event involving his/her mother, but no description is included, or the answer consists mainly of a
the rater for UoE and Mechs (i.e., no penalization regarding
narrative instead of a description.)
these two criteria).
- It opens the paragraph clearly establishing the target of the description. It grabs attention and invites to continue reading.
TOPIC SENTENCE (0.45/0.36/0.24)
(TS)
- The TS is dull and uninviting (e.g. “In this paragraph, I am going to describe my grandmother”) and/or does not provide the
INTRODUCTORY reason why the description is relevant/necessary. (0.25/0.2/0.13)
PARAGRAPH (IP)
- There is no TS establishing the target of the description. Instead the writer jumps directly into description. (0)
CONTENT SELECTION & ORGANIZATION (1.5 MARKS)

- There are 4 to 6 fully developed SSs (with relevant facts, details &/or examples). - The relationship of each SS to the TS and
to other SSs is clearly established via the corresponding connecting words. (0.6/0.48/0.32)
1.5 (150-175) / 1.2(120-150) / 0.8(<120)

- The SSs are unequally developed. Some are neatly packed with relevant facts, details and/or examples while others resemble
neutral statements instead of descriptive sentences.
SUPORTING - The candidate has aimed at establishing a relationship between the SSs and the TS and among the SSs themselves,
SENTENCE (SS) successfully in some cases and unsuccessfully in others (i.e., correct or incorrect use of connecting words). (0.45/0.36/0.24)
- There are more than 4 SSs but they are not sufficiently or clearly developed with relevant facts, details & examples.
SUPORTING
PARAGRAPH (SP) - There is no attempt (i.e., no use of connecting words) to establish the relationship between the SSs & the TS or among the SSs
themselves. (0.3/0.24/0.16)
- The body of the paragraph/essay is constituted by 1, excessively long SS or, on the contrary, of a series of short &/or
disconnected SSs (e.g., no connecting words or incorrect connecting words are used). The SS(s) don’t provide enough facts,
details, or examples to develop the TS or seem unrelated to it. Their relationship of each SS and the TS among the different SSs
is not established or is not clear enough. (0.15/0.12/0.08)
- The CS adequately reformulates the TS and/or elements of the SSs and leaves the reader with a lasting image of the person,
thing, or place described. It neatly closes the paragraph. (0.45/0.36/0.24)
CLOSING
SENTENCE (CS) - a) fails to show or does not clearly show its relationship to the TS and/or to the SSs and
- b) Does not seem to provide a sense of closure to the paragraph (e.g., details / facts / examples that are new or unrelated to
CLOSING the TS/SSs may have been introduced). (0.25/0.2/0.13)
PARAGRAPH (CP)
- There is no CS. The paragraph ends while still providing information about the target of the description and without adding a
final sentence to wrap it all up and close the paragraph. (0)
GRAMMAR
- 0 errors (1/0.75/0.5) - 1 to 3 (0.8/0.6/0.4) - 4 to 6 (0.6/0.45/0.3) - 7 to 9 (0.4/0.3/0.2) - 10/more (0.2/0.15/0.1)
(1 MARK)
2 (150-175) / 1.5(120-150) / 1(<120)

- A WIDE variety of precise, vivid, sense-reaching words/phrases is used. - These words/phrases draw pictures in the reader’s
USE OF ENGLISH (2 MARKS)

mind and linger there. - Their placement in the sentence seems accurate, natural and not forced.
- At least one simile or metaphor has been used. (1/0.75/0.5)
- A variety of vivid, sense-reaching words/phrases is used.
- These words/phrases draw pictures in the reader’s mind and may even linger there.
VOCABULARY - Occasionally, however, some of those words/phrases are used inaccurately or seem overdone. (0.75/0.6/0.4)
(1 MARK) - Sense-reaching words/phrases have not been sufficiently developed. (i.e., there are not enough of them to capture the
reader’s interest, or their use is incorrect). Word choice is vague, mundane, and/or repetitive (i.e., words/phrases
communicate clearly, but the paragraph lacks variety, punch, and/or flair). (0.5/0.4/0.25)
- No sense-reaching words or phrases are used, or they are used incorrectly.
- Word choice is bland, repetitive, limited, and fails to accurately describe the target person, object, or place. It also fails to
communicate meaning at the denotative/representative level. (0.25/0.19/0.13)
0.5 (150-175) / 0.3(120-150) / 0.2(<120)

SPELLING
- No errors. (0.3/0.18/0.12) - 1 to 2. (0.2/0.12/0.08) - 3 to 4. (0.1/0.06/0.04) - 5 or more.(0)
0.3
MECHANICS (0.5 MARKS)

PUNCTUATION
- No errors. (0.1/0.06/0.04) - 1 to 2. (0.075/0.045/0.03) - 3 to 4. (0.05/0.03/0.02) - 5 or more.(0.025/0.015/0.01)
0.1

CAPITALIZATION - No errors. (0.1/0.06/0.04) - 1 to 2. (0.075/0.045/0.03) - 3. (0.05/0.03/0.02) - 5 or more.(0.025/0.015/0.01)

0.1