DEPARTMENT OF SPANISH and ITALIAN

University of Illinois at Chicago

SPANISH COMPOSITION EVALUATION CRITERIA: DESCRIPTION
STUDENT COURSE/SEMESTER
TOPIC OF ESSAY
1
st
Draft
CONTENT: 15 points maximum Score:
15-
13
EXCELLENT TO VERY GOOD: The description is accurate and clearly matches the object, place
or person described. Gives a detailed and organized description of it. Begins with a brief
introduction and then includes all the different aspects and details that will to be described without
favoring one over another.
12-
8
GOOD TO AVERAGE: The writer does a good general description. Introduces the item to be
described clearly but has minor weakness on the description or lacks the description of some key
aspects. Sometimes the writer focuses too much in one aspect forgetting others.
7-5 FAIR TO POOR: The description given is too general. It lacks consistency and accuracy. It makes
some good points but fails to include others and most of the ideas included are incomplete or do
not correspond to the item described.
4-0 VERY POOR: Lacks proper introduction of the object, person or place and vaguely refers to some
of its key features. It gives a list of ideas that refer to what it is being described but are not
explored any further.
ORGANIZATION: 15 points maximum Score:
15-
13
EXCELLENT TO VERY GOOD: Sequence of ideas (paragraphs) in the paper is clear, logical,
and complete; paragraphs have topic sentences, transitions, and are internally coherent.
12-
8
GOOD TO AVERAGE: Minor weaknesses in overall organizational pattern and/or paragraph
structure (e.g., some irrelevant ideas/paragraphs included; some ideas omitted or not fully
developed; some paragraphs with no major point).
7-5

FAIR TO POOR: Major weaknesses in organization and/or paragraph structure (e.g., frequent
digressions; few transitions; serious omissions or underdevelopment).
4-0 VERY POOR: lack of overall organization and/or absence of coherent paragraphs (e.g., no
explicit relationships among ideas in the paper; many one-sentence paragraphs, etc.).
VOCABULARY: 30 points maximum Score:
30- EXCELLENT TO VERY GOOD: Vocabulary of sophisticated range; effective use of word/idiom

23 choice and usage, word form mastery, appropriate register. No use of oral language/register.
Good use of adjectives without being repetitive or using vocabulary that is too basic at this level.
Good use of word connotation as well as sophisticated language.
22-
15
GOOD TO AVERAGE: Vocabulary shows adequate range; occasional errors of word/idiom form,
choice, and usage, but meaning is not obscured. Oral language/register only scarcely employed.
Some adjectives are repetitive or too denotative.
14-
8
FAIR TO POOR: Vocabulary has limited range, frequent errors of word/idiom form, choice, usage;
meaning is confused or obscured. Lack of the use of adjectives and if so, they are repetitive and
lack any connotation.
7-0 VERY POOR: Vocabulary is essentially translation; clear projection from English.
LANGUAGE USE: 30 points maximum Score:
30-
23
EXCELLENT TO VERY GOOD: Good construction of sentences, including proper word order,
referents, subject-verb agreement, parallel structure, modifier and clause placement; few errors of
agreement, tense, number, articles, pronouns, prepositions. Correct placement of adjectives
(before or after the verb)
22-
15
GOOD TO AVERAGE: Minor weaknesses in grammar; few grammatical errors that, in the context
of the essay, cause the reader some distraction; effective but simple constructions; several errors
in agreement, tense, number, word order/function, articles, pronouns, prepositions, but meaning
seldom obscured. Some misplaced adjectives.
14-
8
FAIR TO POOR: Major weaknesses in grammar that cause the reader significant distraction;
frequent errors of negation, agreement, tense, number, word order/function; frequent errors of
articles, pronouns, prepositions and/or fragments, run-ons, deletions; meaning is confused or
obscured; reads like a translation from English. Does not distinguish the proper placement of
adjectives.
7-0 VERY POOR: Poor grammar; virtually no mastery of sentence construction rules; dominated by
errors that makes it difficult to undesrtand.
MECHANICS: 10 points maximum Score:
10-
8
EXCELLENT TO VERY GOOD: Shows mastery of conventions of spelling, punctuation,
capitalization, paragraphing, and accent marks.
7-5 GOOD TO AVERAGE: Occasional errors of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, paragraphing,
and accent marks, but meaning is not obscured.
4-2 FAIR TO POOR: Frequent errors of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, paragraphing, and
accent marks; meaning is confused or obscured.
1-0 VERY POOR: Shows no mastery of conventions; dominated by errors of spelling, punctuation,



STUDENTS NAME:

TOTAL POINTS/GRADE: /100 /60

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BY INSTRUCTOR:
















2
ND
Draft

Essay Evaluation Criteria Total points: 100
(40/100)

EXCELLENT: All requested revisions were addressed.
96 98 100

GOOD: Only some requested revisions were addressed or corrections were partially incorrect.
77 80 83

POOR: Requested corrections were not addressed.
55 60 65

TOTAL _________/100 GRADE
_________%

capitalization, paragraphing, and accent marks.