DBQ Rubric

Introductio
n

First
Reason
Paragraph

Second
Reason
Paragraph

Counterargumen
t
Paragraph

Concl
usion
Parag
raph

Overall
Grammar,
Spelling, and
Punctuation

Contains
creative hook
sentence,
accurate and
relevant
background
information on
the topic, and a
claim statement
that states at
least two
reasons to back
up the
argument.

Contains wellwritten
introduction
sentence
explaining first
reason
supporting claim
and one or two
relevant quotes
or direct
references from
different
documents with
full, clear
explanations and
links back to the
reason.

Contains
introduction
sentence
explaining second
reason supporting
claim and two
relevant quotes or
direct references
from different
documents with
full, clear
explanations and
links back to the
reason.

Contains relevant
counter-argument
statement backed up
by at least one
document with a full,
clear explanation and
links back to the
counter-argument, then
successfully refuted
with one to two
sentences.

Contains excellent restatement of claim

sentence, along with
several sentences
summarizing main
arguments presented in
the argumentative
writing piece and a
strong concluding
sentence.

Contains a hook
statement,
background
information on
the topic, and a
claim sentence
that states two
reasons to back
up the
argument.

Contains an
introduction
sentence
explaining first
reason
supporting claim
and one or two
quotes or direct
references from
different
documents with
explanation and
links back to the
reason.

Contains an
introduction
sentence
explaining second
reason supporting
claim and two
quotes or direct
references from
different
documents with
explanation and
links back to the
reason.

Contains a counterargument statement

backed up by at least
one document with an
explanation and links
back to the counterargument, then refuted
with one or two
sentences.

Contains a re-statement
of claim sentence, along
with some summary of
the main arguments
made throughout the
argumentative writing
piece, and a concluding
sentence.

Contains some
form of
introductory
sentence, some
background on
the topic, and
some kind of
claim statement
on the question
at hand.

Contains some
kind of
introduction
sentence
explaining first
reason
supporting claim
with evidence
from one to two
documents, and
some
explanation of
this evidence.

Contains some
kind of
introduction
sentence
explaining second
reason supporting
claim with
evidence from one
to two documents,
and some
explanation of this
evidence.

Contains some kind of

counter-argument
statement, and using at
least one document as
evidence for this
statement, then refuted
in an unclear manner.

Contains some kind of

re-statement of thesis
and summary of main
arguments, with a weak
concluding sentence.

Introduction
with some
unclear
elements of
background
information
and/or a claim
sentence.

May contain an
unclear
introduction,
along with some
evidence from
one to two
documents that
is not explained
clearly.

May contain an
unclear
introduction,
along with some
evidence from one
to two documents
that is not
explained clearly.

May contain an
unclear counterargument sentence,
along with some
evidence from a
document that is not
explained clearly.
There is little to no
attempt to refute the
counter-argument.

May contain some

elements of thesis or
summary of main
arguments, and little to
no concluding sentence.

The paper is difficult to read due

to many grammar, spelling, and
punctuation errors throughout the
paper.

No introduction
paragraph.

No first reason
paragraph or it is
incoherent.

No second reason
paragraph or it is
incoherent.

No counter-argument
paragraph or it is
incoherent.

No conclusion
paragraph.

The paper is unreadable due to an

abundance of grammar, spelling,
and punctuation errors
throughout the paper.

The paper is clearly a final

product that has been edited
thoroughly for grammar, spelling,
and punctuation.

The paper is readable, but there

are several mistakes in grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.

The paper has grammar, spelling,

and punctuation errors
throughout the paper.