ITC Argumentative / Analytical Essay Rubric Student: Number Grade: _____ Letter: _____

Excellent (A) Quite Good (B) Good (C) Emerging (D) Not Yet Evidenced (E)
4 3 2 1 0

Claim & Focus A single, clear, penetrating claim, A clear, insightful claim The essay makes a clear The central claim is unfocused, The central claim is irrelevant,
(Thesis rooted in the object of study, controls the essay and directs analytical claim about the object unsupported, or otherwise weak, obscure, poorly thought out, or
Statement) animates the essay. our attention to the object of of study. but remains discernible. absent.
study.

Development Reasons and support for the claim
(Ideas & are clear, controlled, and (if
Content) applicable) proactively defended.
The essay reveals the significance
of the claim.
Reasons and support are clear
and logical. The essay reveals
the significance of the claim.
Reasons and support are mostly
clear, but occasionally fuzzy or
oddly constructed. The essay
assumes too much about the
significance of the claim, and is
not as explicit as it should be.
There are signs of an attempt to
develop reasons and support. The
essay fails to address the so what?
question.
Neither the claim nor its
significance is advanced, defended,
or developed. The essay offers too
brief a treatment of the topic, even
within the limited expectations of
the assignment.

Evidence & The essay unfolds appropriate, The essay presents strong, The essay presents relevant The essay includes evidence, but it Evidence and/or explication are
Support focused, and specific evidence to relevant evidence which is evidence that is adequately is ill-chosen, under-examined, or weak, irrelevant, or missing.
(MEAL) advance the reasons and claim. explicated with dexterity and treated. The explication or both.
Balanced and carefully explicated. consistency. analysis is attentive.

Organization The main claim (thesis) organizes
the entire essay. Each part
transitions smoothly into the next
and reflects its precedents. Ideas
are presented in optimal order.
The main claim (thesis)
organizes the essay, the
transitions are usually smooth,
and the ideas are presented in
reasonable order.
The main claim (thesis)
organizes the bulk of the essay;
transitions are present but may
be rough; distinct ideas are
presented successively.
A main claim (thesis) does not The essay is redundant and
organize the essay, the transitions incoherent.
are especially rough or absent, or
the ideas are not ordered.

Style The prose is clear, precise, apt, The prose is clear, precise, and The prose is clear and apt, The prose occasionally strikes The prose is vague, addressed to
(Voice, Fluency, sophisticated, and graceful. apt. though some imprecision home, but is otherwise feeble, the wrong audience, or aimed at
Diction) remains. inattentive, distracted, or hasty. the wrong topic.

Mechanics, Next to no errors in spelling, Occasional mechanical errors Mechanical errors are evident Spelling and grammar errors, or A dictionary seems never to have
Punctuation, grammar, punctuation, or do not interfere with the but do not prevent reading and convention / usage irregularities, been consulted.
Conventions convention. reading. comprehension impede reading and comprehension.

Format (MLA) Flawless Almost flawless Acceptable errors (quality or Significant errors (quality or MLA? Whats that?
quantity) quantity)