Persuasive Essay Rubric
Based on Common Core Standards for Reading/Writing in History/Social Sciences (www.corestandards.org)
Exceeds Standard
POINTS 5 34
Thesis/Claim Thesis/Claim is precise,
knowledgeable, significant, and
distinguished from alternate or
opposing claims
Develops the topic thoroughly by
selecting the most significant and
*Use of
relevant facts, concrete details,
Evidence quotations, or other information and
examples from the text(s)
Skillfully draws evidence,
evaluates the argument and specific
*Use of
claims assessing whether the
Analysis reasoning is valid and the evidence
is relevant and sufficient
Organization skillfully sequences
the claim(s), reasons, and evidence.
*Organization, Skillfully produces clear,
Writing Style coherent, sophisticated writing in
and which the development,
Conventions organization, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and
audience
* No answer = 0 point
Meets Standard
Thesis/Claim is precise and
knowledgeable, and answers the
prompt (W1)
Develops the topic by selecting
significant and relevant facts,
concrete details, quotations, or
other information and examples
from the text(s) (W2)
Draws evidence to support
analysis and thesis/claim,
evaluates the argument and
specific claims.
Organization logically
sequences the claim(s), reasons,
and evidence.
Produces clear and coherent
writing in which the development,
organization, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and
audience
Almost to Standard Below Standard
MUST REWRITE
2 1
Thesis/Claim may be unclear or Thesis/Claim is
irrelevant, and/or may not answer missing
prompt
Attempts to develop the topic using Does not develop the
facts and other information, but topic by selecting
evidence is inaccurate, irrelevant, information and
and/or insufficient examples from the
text(s)
Attempts to draw evidence from to Does not use
support analysis and thesis/claim, evidence and does not
evaluate the argument and specific evaluate claims in text
claims but evidence and analysis is
insufficient.
Attempts to create a logical Does not provide
organization, but may be missing some logical organization
elements of the assignment
Does not produce
Attempts to produce clear and clear and coherent
coherent writing, but errors in writing
conventions and writing style detract
from understanding