The essay has an original and interesting angle.
_____ truly fresh & interesting (exceeds
expectations)
_____ a bit predictable but interesting (good; better
than most)
_____ ordinary (expected at this level)
_____ quite predictable (below expectations)
The essay demonstrates accurate analysis with creative and
evaluative qualities.
_____ sees beyond the obvious; makes unexpected
connections/commentary
_____ masters the obvious with clear connections/commentary
_____ shows some control of analysis; connections/commentary
are ordinary
_____ notable flaws in analysis; connections/commentary are
thin or unjustified
The essay demonstrates excellent reasoning.
_____ flawless logic in interpretation & inference
_____ nearly flawless logic in interpretation &
inference
_____ acceptable logic in interpretation & inference;
some errors or extreme leaps of inference
_____ notably flawed logic in interpretation & inference
The essay is well-focused & well-organized with strong
transitions.
_____ powerfully focused with masterful flow and
sophisticated use of transitions
_____ strong focus; flows well with good transitions
_____ slight focus shifts, may be accompanied by some
elementary transitions
_____ notable focus shifts, usually accompanied by
elementary or missing transitions
The essay is well-developed with specific and appropriate references to & explanations of the text.
_____ extensive & powerful textual proof and explanation
of textual proof; properly documented
_____ adequate & competently chosen textual proof and
explanation of textual proof; properly documented
_____ minor lapses in amount or quality of textual proof
&/or explanation of textual proof, &/or documentation
_____ notably inadequate or inappropriate textual proof
&/or explanation of textual proof; poor documentation
The essay has strong academic voice and style with variety of sentence types & diction.
_____ powerful academic voice with sophisticated variety of
sentence & diction choices
_____ good academic voice with above average variety of
sentence & diction choices
_____ acceptable academic voice with expected variety of
sentence & diction choices
_____ notably informal with little variety of sentence and
diction choices
The essay is mechanically sound.
_____ stylistically sophisticated & virtually flawless
_____ stylistically sophisticated with some lapses in
control of mechanics
_____ stylistically ordinary with only minor lapses in
control of mechanics
_____ stylistically ordinary with obvious lapses in control
of mechanics