Grading Rubric
25% – Essay structure, MLA style, in-text citations, works cited page:
o Essay must include effective title, lead-in, thesis, body and conclusion.
o Essay must be typed in MLA style with 1 inch margins, indented paragraphs and MLA header.
Essay must be double spaced with proper essay spacing.
o Essay must include the assigned number of sources, documented properly with plenty of MLA
style end-of-line documentations and include a MLA style works cited page.
o Essay must not go over or under the word limit.
25%- Content/ SLO’s:
o Essay must follow assigned mode and topic, must tackle the subject matter in a mature
depth, and must display critical thinking and reasoning.
o Essay must include critical analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of a variety of sources. Essay
must include ethical (always give credit) and logical uses of evidence.
o Essay must follow the writing prompt and be written in a style appropriate to audience and
purpose. (College level analysis)
o Essay must not contain false information or logical fallacies.
o Essay must display effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas. Ideas must
be developed with appropriate support and attribution. (in-text citations and works cited page)
o Essay must successfully address the Student Learning Outcomes as listed in the course syllabus.
25%- Punctuation and Usage/ College level Style and Word Choice
o Essay must incorporate source material smoothly and effectively, with all quotations properly
introduced.
o Essay must be written in Edited American English, including, but not limited to, proper use of
commas, semi-colons, colons, apostrophes, and periods.
o Essay must not contain spelling errors, capitalization, or texting style mistakes.
o Essay must not contain any fused run-ons, comma splice run-ons, or sentence fragments.
o Essay must display proper use of pronouns and verbs.
o Essays must exhibit a mature style in word choice and sentence structure/sentence variety.
o Essays must not contain contractions or second person point of view (you).
o Essay must contain strong effective word choice, avoiding vague word choice such as “thing” or
“stuff” and colloquial words like “kid” and “guy”.
o Essay must not contain slang or non-standard word choices.
o Essay must maintain proper use of literary present tense.
25%- Essay Steps, Teamwork and CORE questions: (Continued on next page)
o Essay must include steps and collaboration activities. Students must participate in the teamwork
portion of the assignment. Participation in “Writing Partners” is required.
o Directly after the works cited page, writers must answer CORE questions thoroughly with
complete sentences. (no fragments allowed)
/25 points – Essay Structure, MLA Style, intext citation, and works cited:
/25 points- Content/ SLO’s
/25 points- Punctuation and Usage/ College level Style and Word Choice
/25 Points- Essay Steps, Teamwork and CORE questions
