Writing to Persuade
Dr. Sean Meehan
Strong Writing: Rubric for Essay Assessment
Emerson describes strong and persuasive writing metaphorically, as a skating that takes us where we (reader and writer) would not go.
As a way to help define how a writer becomes a better skater, consider the following criteria I have developed and synthesized from our Fields of Reading text and a text I use in my Teaching Writing course [Inside Out by Kirby and Liner]. Those authors emphasize that strong writing has two primary components: it is interesting and technically skillful, crafted. Since we can’t as learners (and writers) do everything at once, for each of the four main essay assignments, you will focus developing three areas and I will focus on those three areas in my assessment. I have provided a basic scoring rubric, to help you begin to grasp differences among weak, average, strong, and excellent writing. As we discuss writing in class, based on the readings and our workshops, your job will be to flesh out the rubric with tangible examples of strong (or average or weak or excellent) reflection, voice, detail, etc.
1st Area: Purpose
Persuasive writing is purposeful. Nonfiction writing, as we are exploring it, communicates through one of four main purposes or motives in writing.
1]Reflection
Focus: recollection and significance
2]Reporting
Focus: point of view
3]Explanation
Focus: illustration
4]Argument
Focus: evidence and logic
2nd Area: Interest and Skill
Persuasive writing is interesting and technically skillful.
1]The writing has a Voice:
One human being talking to another; makes the reader believe; a strong, recognizable imprint of the writer, sometimes called style.
2]The writing Moves
Starts here and goes there; pulls the reader along; has variety and turns, sometimes surprises
3]The writing is Informative
Says something and adds to our experience; makes reader feel that time has been well spent.
4]The writing is Inventive
Says something new, or something old in a new way; has imagination
5]The writing has a sense of Audience
Writing anticipates audience, conveys the feeling of contact between a real person writing and a real person reading
6]The writing uses Detail, but not too much.
Selection of details that are vivid, suit the piece and the audience, particularize the experience for the reader
7]The writing uses words that Sing
Rich in imagery and associations, strong in rhythm, filled with wordplay; uses the language resources of the poet
8]The writing makes Sense
It is clear, conveys the message to the reader, is meaningful
3rd Area: Conventions/Mechanics
All published writing further observes the conventions of mechanics, usage, and form: conventions expected by readers such as punctuation, spelling, consistent usage. This is the kind of stuff you do when editing. Note: this does not always mean that your writing is “grammatically correct.” A component of your Voice or Movement or Singing may involve usage that is not conventional. The key is that you as the writer have chosen this for a purpose and are in control of it. We will talk more about this and explore this understanding in workshops. Additionally, you will receive 10 points for the process: 5 points for each of your two drafts if they are posted on-time.
Remember, in this course you are not just writing assignments for me; you are working (with me and with peers) toward publishing your writing: to the class, to the web, possibly in a print or electronic publication you submit one of your pieces to.
Assessment Rubric
Assignment 1: Reflecting
Total points (110):
1]Purpose: Reflection [50 points]
Excellent: 45-50
Strong: 40-44
Average/Sufficient: 35-39
Weak: 30-34
Insufficient or Failing: below 30
2]Interest/Skill
Voice and Audience [25 points]
Excellent: 23-25
Strong: 20-22
Average/Sufficient: 17-19
Weak: 15-17
Insufficient or Failing: below 15
3]Conventions [25 points]
Process [10 points]
Assignment 2: Reporting
Total points (110):
1]Purpose: Reporting [50 points]
Excellent: 45-50
Strong: 40-44
Average/Sufficient: 35-39
Weak: 30-34
Insufficient or Failing: below 30
2]Interest/Skill
Movement and Detail [25 points]
Excellent: 23-25
Strong: 20-22
Average/Sufficient: 17-19
Weak: 15-17
Insufficient or Failing: below 15
3]Conventions [25 points]
Process [10 points]
Assignment 3: Explaining
Total points (110):
1]Purpose: Explanation [50 points]
Excellent: 45-50
Strong: 40-44
Average/Sufficient: 35-39
Weak: 30-34
Insufficient or Failing: below 30
2]Interest/Skill
Information/Word Choices [25 points]
Excellent: 23-25
Strong: 20-22
Average/Sufficient: 17-19
Weak: 15-17
Insufficient or Failing: below 15
3]Conventions [25 points]
Process [10 points]
Assignment 4: Arguing
Total points (110):
1]Purpose: Argument [50 points]
Excellent: 45-50
Strong: 40-44
Average/Sufficient: 35-39
Weak: 30-34
Insufficient or Failing: below 30
2]Interest/Skill
Inventive/Makes Sense [25 points]
Excellent: 23-25
Strong: 20-22
Average/Sufficient: 17-19
Weak: 15-17
Insufficient or Failing: below 15
3]Conventions [25 points]
Process [10 points]
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