Grading Rubric for Writing Assignment
A (4) B (3) C (2) D/F (1/0)
Focus: Purpose Purpose is clear Shows awareness of
purpose
Shows limited
awareness of
purpose
No awareness
Main idea Clearly presents a
main idea and
supports it
throughout the
paper.
There is a main idea
supported throughout
most of the paper.
Vague sense of a
main idea, weakly
supported
throughout the
paper.
No main idea
Organization:
Overall
Well-planned and
well-thought out.
Includes title,
introduction,
statement of main
idea, transitions and
conclusion.
Good overall
organization, includes
the main
organizational tools.
There is a sense of
organization,
although some of the
organizational tools
are used weakly or
missing
No sense of
organization
Organization:
Paragraphs
All paragraphs have
clear ideas, are
supported with
examples and have
smooth transitions.
Most paragraphs have
clear ideas, are
supported with some
examples and have
transitions.
Some paragraphs
have clear ideas,
support from
examples may be
missing and
transitions are weak.
Para. lack clear ideas
Content Exceptionally wellpresented and
argued; ideas are
detailed, welldeveloped,
supported with
specific evidence &
facts, as well as
examples and
specific details.
Well-presented and
argued; ideas are
detailed, developed
and supported with
evidence and details,
mostly specific.
Content is sound and
solid; ideas are
present but not
particularly
developed or
supported; some
evidence, but
usually of a
generalized nature.
Content is not sound
Sources are
exceptionally wellintegrated and they
support claims
argued in the paper
very effectively.
Sources are well
integrated and
support the paper’s
claims. There may be
occasional errors
Sources support
some claims made in
the paper, but might
not be integrated
well within the
paper’s argument. Ti
The paper does not
use adequate
research or if it does,
the sources are not
integrated well.
Style: Sentence
structure
Sentences are clear
and varied in
pattern, from simple
to complex, with
excellent use of
punctuation.
Sentences are clear
but may lack
variation; a few may
be awkward and there
may be a few
punctuation errors.
Sentences are
generally clear but
may have awkward
structure or unclear
content; there may
be patterns of
Sentences aren’t
clear
Research