Multi-Media Writing

Dr. Sean Meehan

[multi-media home]

Evaluation Rubric

What follows is a rubric or guide for you in developing your essays and achieving stronger writing and for me in assessing that development and achievement. These rubrics are provided by the Composition and Communication faculty. We will use them during discussions of readings as well as in workshops; the point for them is not simply for me to give you a grade but for you (with help from me and from peers) to develop a better sense of what makes for excellent, strong, average, and weak writing.

Overall Rubric

Thesis Statement

A         An “A” quality thesis statement is concise, clearly stated, thought-provoking, arguable, and supportable in the context of the given assignment.

B         A “B” quality thesis statement meets most of the outlined criteria, but not at the same level or quality as the “A” thesis statement.

C         A “C” quality thesis statement meets some of the outlined criteria, or partially meets all of the listed criteria

D         A “D” quality thesis statement meets a few of the outlined criteria, or minimally meets all of the listed criteria.

F         An “F” quality thesis statement fails to meet the outlined criteria

Evidence

A         “A” quality evidence consists of an analysis of necessary and valid support relevant to and consistent with the thesis statement and given assignment. For example, evidence consists of facts, statistics, examples, illustrations, and/or opinions.

B         “B” quality evidence contains most of the outlined criteria for evidence, but not at the same level or quality as the “A” paper.

C         “C” quality evidence contains some of the outlined criteria for evidence, or partially meets all of the criteria for evidence.

D         “D” quality evidence contains few of the outlined criteria for evidence, or minimally meets the all of the criteria for evidence.

F         “F” quality evidence fails to meet the outlined criteria for evidence.

Writing Style

A         “A” quality writing style contains purposeful, expressive, distinctive writing that includes vivid, concrete language using cohesive paragraphs with varied sentence structure appropriate to the audience and given assignment.

B         “B” quality writing style contains most of the outlined criteria, but not at the same quality or level as an “A” paper.

C         “C” quality writing style contains some of the outline criteria, or partially meets all of the outlined criteria.

D         “D” quality writing style contains few of the outline criteria, or minimally meets all of the outlined criteria.

F         “F” quality writing style fails to meet the outlined criteria.

Organization

A         “A” quality organization consists of a clear idea that is presented in a logical sequence of well-developed paragraphs with smooth transitions leading to a credible conclusion.

B         “B” quality organization contains most of the outlined criteria for organization, but not at the same level or quality as the “A” paper.

C         “C” quality organization contains some of the outlined criteria listed for organization, or partially meets all of the criteria.

D         “D” quality organization contains few of the outlined criteria, or minimally meets all of the criteria.

F         “F” quality organization fails to meet the outlined criteria.

Mechanics

A         “A” quality mechanics refers to a paper that is virtually free of mechanical errors, including but not limited to issues of punctuation, spelling, grammar, and capitalization.

B         “B” quality mechanics refers to a paper that has only occasional mechanical errors.

C         “C” quality mechanics refers to a paper that contains several mechanical errors.

D         “D” quality mechanics refers to a paper that contains many and frequently repeated mechanical errors.

F         “F” quality mechanics refers to a paper that contains an abundance of serious mechanical errors.

Scoring Rubric

Each of your three formal essays will be worth 100 points. Each will be scored thus:

1]Thesis [20 points]

            Excellent/A: 18-20

            Strong/B: 16-18

            Sufficient/C: 14-15

            Weak/D: 12-13

            Insufficient/F: below 12

2]Evidence [20 points]

            Excellent/A: 18-20

            Strong/B: 16-18

            Sufficient/C: 14-15

            Weak/D: 12-13

            Insufficient/F: below 12

3]Style [20 points]

            Excellent/A: 18-20

            Strong/B: 16-18

            Sufficient/C: 14-15

            Weak/D: 12-13

            Insufficient/F: below 12

4]Organization [20 points]

            Excellent/A: 18-20

            Strong/B: 16-18

            Sufficient/C: 14-15

            Weak/D: 12-13

            Insufficient/F: below 12

5]Mechanics [20 points]

            Excellent/A: 18-20

            Strong/B: 16-18

            Sufficient/C: 14-15

            Weak/D: 12-13

            Insufficient/F: below 12