well-defined subject.

• contains a well-defined subject.

• presents a sharp focus and avoids general statements.

• provides sufficient and effective research that supports the thesis.

• pursues complex analyses and moves beyond simple statements of fact or opinion.

• reveals a strong understanding of the topic through the writer’s ability to interpret/analyze, and/or explain the ideas/quotations being used.

• contains a loosely defined subject.

• presents a focus but general statements are evident.

• provides some research that supports the thesis.

• somewhat pursues complex analyses and moves beyond simple statements of fact or opinion.

• reveals a mild understanding of the topic through the writer’s ability to interpret/analyze, and/or explain the ideas/quotations being used.

• contains an ambiguous subject.

• lacks a focus and is replete with general statements.

• provides insufficient and ineffective research.

• relies heavily on simple statements of fact or opinion.

• reveals a poor understanding of the topic through the writer’s inability to interpret/analyze, and/or explain the ideas/quotations being used.

• includes a clear beginning that pulls readers into the essay.

• introduction has a clear thesis statement followed by a brief description of 2-3 supporting arguments.

• presents ideas in an organized manner.

• uses transitions to link sentences and paragraphs.

• includes a clear beginning that mildly draws readers into the essay.

• introduction has an ambiguous thesis statement followed by a brief description of 2-3 supporting arguments.

• mostly presents ideas in an organized manner.

• uses some transitions to link sentences and paragraphs.

• beginning is unclear and not enticing.

• introduction lacks a thesis statement and a description of 2-3 supporting arguments.

• presents ideas in an unorganized manner.

• lacks use of transitions to link sentences and paragraphs.

Contains specific nouns, vivid verbs, and colorful modifiers (words that describe nouns).

Contains a mixture of specific and general nouns, vivid and dull verbs, and colorful and dry modifiers (words that describe nouns).

Contains general nouns, dull verbs, and dry modifiers (words that describe nouns).

• accurately support the argument.

• are properly integrated into the essay.

• are followed by effective citations with no evidence of plagiarism that give credit in the text.

• mildly support the argument.

• at times, are properly integrated into the essay.

• are followed by some errors in citations.

• do not support the argument.

• are not properly integrated into the essay.

• are followed by either incorrect or no citations.

• express exact meaning because they are written as complete sentences.

• contain appropriate punctuation marks.

• reflect correct arrangement of words for clear meaning.

• uses engaging language to capture the reader’s interest.

• express fairly accurate meaning because they are written roughly as complete sentences.

• contain some inappropriate punctuation marks.

• reflect slightly awkward arrangement of words for an attempt at clear meaning.

• express inaccurate meaning because they are not written as complete sentences.

• contain inappropriate punctuation marks.

• reflect an awkward arrangement of words for resulting in unclear meaning.

• contains a well-developed assessment of the problem/issue that goes beyond superficial opinions and/or obvious facts.

• provides novel ways to resolve the problem(s) that the analysis reveals.

• has compelling reflections that extend the scope of the essay.

• leaves the reader thoroughly satisfied by the description of the topic.

• contains an assessment of the problem/issue that mildly moves beyond superficial opinions and/or obvious facts.

• provides a mixture of innovative and unoriginal ways to resolve the problem(s) that analysis reveals.

• has little compelling reflections that slightly extend the scope of the essay.

• leaves the reader somewhat satisfied by the description of the topic.

• contains a poorly developed assessment of the problem/issue.

• provides unoriginal ways to resolve the problem(s) that the analysis reveals.

• leaves the reader dissatisfied by the description of the topic.

• conforms to the MLA format.

• Primarily relies upon library-based sources (i.e. books, journals, newspaper articles, etc.)

•accurately reflects the works cited in the text.

• somewhat conforms to the MLA format.

• Contains some library-based sources.

•at times reflects the works cited in the text.

• does not conform to the MLA format.

• Most sources are not library-based sources.

•does not reflect the works cited in the text.