CER Rubric

The Argumentative Claim A Persuasive Thesis

10/60 points
Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced
No opinion Support one opinion Clearly Support one Clearly support one
supported The author has selected opinion opinion
The author does not and supported either the The author has selected The author has selected
support an opinion or Pro (by arguing in favor and supported either the and supported either the
goes back and forth of the topic) or the Con Pro (by arguing in favor Pro (by arguing in favor
(by arguing against the of the topic) or the Con of the topic) or the Con
between pro and con.
topic) but the argument (by arguing against the (by arguing against the
is not clear or the topic) and attempts to topic) consistently
argument and attempts maintain the argument throughout the essay.
to maintain the throughout the essay
argument throughout the
essay

Reasons & Evidence Research, Facts, & Quotes

30 points out of 60
Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced
Too Brief Too Brief Develop the topic Develop the topic
The author needs to Either the author has through research through research
add commentary no commentary after The author attempts to The author attempts to
quotes, or the author prove the thesis prove the thesis
did not include enough statement by using statement by using
direct quotes. research, facts, and research, facts, and
quotes, and uses fact- quotes, and consistently
based statements to uses fact-based
support reasonable statements to support
opinions. reasonable, well-crafted
opinions.
Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced
No Direct Quotes Used some quotes Use well-chosen Use well-chosen
The author failed to and facts quotes and facts quotes and facts
include direct quotes The author attempts to The author uses direct The author uses direct
or did not find use quotes and facts quotes from research. quotes from research.
supporting facts. from research but they These quotes help to These quotes are
do not strongly prove the thesis appropriate and
statement. These quotes necessary to prove the
support the argument.
are fact-based. thesis statement. These
quotes are fact-based.
 Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced
No Quotes, and Too Many Quotes - Long quotes with Support quotes with
Evidence Too Similar and yet, No Synthesis some support using commentary and
The author lacks The author uses commentary and reasoning
quotes or the author quotes and the quotes reasoning The author uses short,
needs to address support the argument The author uses long relevant quotes and
different viewpoints but the author left the quotes, and attempts to clearly explains how the
for synthesis. reader to guess why explain how the quote quote helps to prove the
helps to prove the thesis. thesis. The author does
the quote is relevant
The author does not not leave it up to the
or did not explain the
leave it up to the reader reader to guess why the
reasoning for using quote is relevant, and
to guess why the quote is
this quote. relevant, and does does explain her or his
explain her or his reasoning for using this
reasoning for using this quote.
quote.

Consider the Audience Opposing Viewpoints

10 points out of 60
Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced
Does Not Identify Identifies Opposing Acknowledge Opposing Acknowledge Opposing
Opposing Viewpoint Viewpoint Viewpoints Viewpoints
The author has not The author identifies an The author considers the The author considers the
identified an opposing viewpoint but fact that reasonable and fact that reasonable and
opposing viewpoint does not explain how it intelligent people may intelligent people may
or does not explain is reasonable or disagree with the thesis disagree with the thesis
statement. The author statement The author
how it is reasonable dismisses the
attempts to state at least clearly states at least one
or dismisses the counterargument. one opposing viewpoint opposing viewpoint that
counterargument. that reasonable people reasonable people might
might use to counter the use to counter the thesis.
thesis.
Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced
Opposing Opposing Viewpoints Counter opposing Counter opposing
Viewpoints The author attempts to viewpoints viewpoints
The author does not respond to that opposing The author attempts to The author successfully
respond to respond to viewpoint, but fails to respond to that opposing responds to that opposing
opposing viewpoints address the following: viewpoint, by doing at least viewpoint, by doing at least
explaining why one of the following: one of the following:
that viewpoint is explaining why explaining why
invalid or that viewpoint is that viewpoint is
irrelevant invalid or invalid or
acknowledging irrelevant irrelevant
that viewpoint is acknowledging acknowledging
valid, but that viewpoint is that viewpoint is
persuading the valid, but valid, but
 reader that the
author's facts are
more relevant
re-direct the reader
by explaining how
the counter-
argument can
actually help prove
the main argument
Below Basic Basic
Maintain credibility Maintain credibility
The authors The author attempts to
vocabulary is far below keep a respectful tone
grade level or facts and throughout the essay but
opinions are not fully the vocabulary is below
and accurately grade level or facts and
described. opinions are not fully and
accurately described.
persuading the
reader that the
author's facts are
more relevant
re-direct the reader
by explaining how
the counter-
argument can
actually help prove
the main argument
Proficient
Maintain credibility
The author attempts to
keep a respectful tone
throughout the essay. The
author differentiates facts
from opinions. The author
uses grade level
vocabulary and reasoning.
The author uses and
presents facts correctly and
accurately.
persuading the
reader that the
author's facts are
more relevant
re-direct the reader
by explaining how
the counter-
argument can
actually help prove
the main argument
Advanced
Maintain credibility
The author keeps a
respectful tone throughout
the essay. The author
clearly differentiates facts
from opinions. . The author
uses vocabulary and
reasoning above grade
level. The author uses and
presents facts correctly and
accurately.

A Call to Action Conclusion and Purpose

10 points out of 60
Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced
No Conclusion No Synthesis or A Logical A Logical
The author does not Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion
conclude on the The author concludes, The author The author
thesis statement. but does not synthesize successfully proves successfully proves
the argument and the the thesis and the thesis and
counterargument, attempts a includes a clear
leaving the discussion conclusion which conclusion which
unclosed. closes the closes the
discussion. discussion.
Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced
No Call to Action A Call to Action A Persuasive Call A Persuasive Call
The author does not The author provides to Action to Action
provides some action some action for the The author provides The author provides
for the reader to reader to take, but lacks some action for the a clear action for the
take. persuasive tone. reader to take, and reader to take, and
has a strong, has a strong,
persuasive tone. persuasive tone.
Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced
No Final A Final Statement A Strong Final A Strong Final
Statement The essay ends with a statement statement
The essay ends final statement but it The essay ends with The essay ends with
without a strong lacks support or is not a strong final a strong final
conclusion. persuasive. statement that is statement that is
relevant or relevant and
persuasive. persuasive.

Teacher Comments:

Total points out of 60: