Blackboard Learning System 2/11/11 9:52 AM

Your location: Grading Forms › Preview

Preview - Essays
This form will be used to grade your first essay. For the second essay, the points for each box will be doubled; for
the third essay they will be tripled. Of course it is not possible to specify **everything** an excellent essay does,
but this should be an accurate guide to the **general** features that determine the quality of an essay. Notice
that the lowest level on this rubric, "Needs improvement," represents a passing grade. Essays that do not achieve
this level would not receive passing grades. And for any criterion, an essay that does not achieve the "needs
improvement" level will receive 0 points.

Objective/Criteria Performance Indicators

Needs Good Very good Excellent
Improvement
Spelling (2 points) (3 points) (4 points) (5 points)
Fewer than 10 Fewer than 7 spelling Fewer than 5 spelling Fewer than 3 spelling
spelling errors. errors. errors. errors.
Grammar (2 points) (3 points) (4 points) (5 points)
A significant number Some grammatical Very few and minor No grammatical
of grammatical errors, but no basic grammatical errors. errors.
errors, but none that ones.
keep the reader from
understanding the
author's intended
meaning.
Thesis Statement (6 points) (7 points) (9 points) (10 points)
A thesis can be A thesis is easily A thesis is easily A clear thesis is
identified, but what identified, and its identified, its easily identified, it
the thesis means basic meaning is meaning is clear, and makes a claim that is
may not be clear. clear. it is neither too neither too general
general or vague, nor nor trivial, and it is
trivial. original and
interesting.
Argument (20 points) (25 points) (30 points) (35 points)
The paper has an The paper has an The paper has an The paper has an
argument for the argument for the argument for the argument for the
thesis, although it thesis that follows thesis that follows thesis that follows
may be undeveloped, one of the six one of the six one of the six
implausible, or deductive forms in deductive forms in deductive forms in
subject to obvious RFA, and each RFA, each premise is RFA, each premise is
objections. premise is given given support as given support as
support as needed. needed, and each needed, and each
part of the argument part of the argument
is sensitive to what is is sensitive to what is
plausible, and to the plausible, and to the
degree of logical degree of logical
force the argument force the argument
has. has. The argument
also shows originality
and insight, and
develops its ideas in
novel, interesting
ways.
Objection (15 points) (18 points) (21 points) (25 points)

http://hccs.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc5116011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct Page 1 of 2
Blackboard Learning System 2/11/11 9:52 AM

The paper explains The paper explains The paper explains a The paper explains a
an objection, but may an objection, making clear objection to the clear objection to the
not be clear about clear why it is an thesis, and why thesis, motivating it
what the objection objection and what someone might with a reasonable
says or why it is an the objection is. reasonably think this. presentation, and
objection. showing sensitive
judgment about its
force and
consequences.
Introduction (6 points) (7 points) (9 points) (10 points)
The paper introduces The paper has a The paper has a The paper introduces
the topic, but may concise introduction. concise introduction the topic concisely,
use unnecessary saying what the forecasts accurately
words or general, paper will what the paper will
vague statements in accomplish. accomplish, and
doing so. makes the
introduction
interesting.
Conclusion (6 points) (7 points) (9 points) (10 points)
The paper has a The paper has a The paper has a The paper has a
conclusion, but it clear, brief clear, brief conclusion clear, brief
may not be clear or conclusion. stating accurately conclusion stating
accurate. what the paper has accurately what the
accomplished. paper has
accomplished. It also
suggests why its
conclusion matters,
or how the
conclusion might be
developed to
contribute to thinking
about other
important questions.
out of 100

OK

http://hccs.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc5116011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct Page 2 of 2