Rubric Essay 2_1

Rhetorical sophistication
The essay has a clear, strong thesis that identifies the specific features to be analyzed, offers a rhetorically informed answer to the so-what question, and that also reflects a robust understanding of audience and rhetorical purpose.

The essay articulates a thesis, but the thesis does not (yet) reflect a clear understanding of audience/rhetorical purpose or it does not identify the key features that the paper will analyze.

The thesis attempts to cover too much or too little ground. It gestures toward, but does not yet reflect a clear understanding of audience/rhetorical purpose or it does not identify the key features that the paper will analyze.

The thesis is weak or difficult to identify. The thesis does not reflect an understanding of audience or rhetorical purpose.
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Organization
The essay reflects thoughtful organization. The key paragraphs follow the map laid out in the thesis. Each paragraph elaborates one idea and clearly ties the analysis back to the essay’s overall argument.  The essay includes strong transitions both between paragraphs and between sentences within the same paragraph.

The essay reflects careful organization, and the key paragraphs attempt to follow the map laid out in the thesis. Each paragraph attempts to elaborate one idea, though it may not clearly link the analysis back to the essay’s overall argument. The essay makes good use of transitions between ideas, but could benefit from the inclusion of stronger transitions either between paragraphs or between sentences within paragraphs.

The essay reflects careful organization, and the key paragraphs attempt to follow the map laid out in the thesis. Each paragraph attempts to elaborate one idea, though it may not clearly link the analysis back to the essay’s overall argument. Paragraphs may contain extraneous information or ideas may be repeated throughout the essay without clear rhetorical exigence to the place in which they appear. The essay would benefit from stronger transitions between paragraphs and between sentences within paragraphs.

The essay’s organization does not reflect a careful plan. The essay includes little or no forecasting, so the reader is often surprised by what comes next. The author needs to develop a stronger organizational structure to better communicate the ideas and support the essay’s overall argument.

Evidence
The essay includes ample evidence to support the overall argument in close-analysis of quotations or texts. The essay deftly connects the analysis of the evidence back to the paragraph’s argument and the essay’s overall argument.

The essay includes evidence in the form of close analysis of quotations or texts. The essay performs some analysis but has not yet connected that analysis to the paragraph’s overall argument, or the argument of the essay as a whole.

The essay includes some evidence in the form of close analysis of quotations or texts, but would benefit from the inclusion of more evidence or deeper analysis. The essay performs some analysis but has not yet connected that analysis to the paragraph’s overall argument, or the argument of the essay as a whole.

The essay includes little or no evidence. The essay may not have fulfilled the minimum requirement of including textual analysis to support the argument.

Style/Syntax
The essay is easy to read because sentences are clearly written, there are no mechanical errors that detract from the readability of the assignment, there are no type-os in the assignment. In other words, the essay makes good use of transitions and punctuation to ease the reader’s experience. If there are any infelicities, they do not detract from meaning or readability.

The essay is easy to read, and there are no mechanical errors that detract from readability. There may be up to 3 type-os, but they do not detract from the overall meaning. There may be a few infelicities or difficulties with punctuation that obscure meaning in some parts.

The essay is mostly easy to read, though there are a few mechanical errors that detract from readability in some areas. There may be more than 3 type-os, but they do not detract from the overall meaning. There may be a few infelicities that obscure meaning in some parts.

 
The essay contains numerous errors at the sentence level that detract from the essay’s overall meaning.

Citation
The essay includes a Works Cited, which is properly formatted in MLA style. All materials are properly cited both in-text and in the WC.

The essay includes a Works Cited, which attempts to properly format in MLA style, but there may be a few errors in formatting. All materials are properly cited.

The essay includes a Works Cited, but it may not be properly formatted in MLA style. All materials are properly cited.

The essay does not include a Works Cited or it may not be properly formatted in MLA style. Some materials may be missing or improperly cited within the document.