Guidelines for Grading Essays

 

60

 

60-64

 

65-69

70-74

 

75-79

 

80-89

 

90+

 

Unacceptable

Poor

Adequate

Satisfactory

Good

 

Very Good

Excellent

 

 

 

General Knowledge

 

Working Knowledge

 

Qualified Knowledge

 

Characteristics of the Essay

 

Content

Knowledge

Comprehension

Application

Analysis Synthesis

Evaluation

Indication that the learner has only the most basic knowledge of the subject.

Evidence of learning at the comprehension level

Evidence of basic learning at the application level

Basics with references Evidence of analysis

Comprehensive with references and analysis Showing evidence of analysis and synthesis

Comprehensive well supported analysis synthesis and evaluation

Superior

Sources

No sources cited

Inappropriate  sources newspaper, magazine, online

Professional sources, journals, online resources systematically evaluated

secondary and tertiary sources mostly peer reviewed

Primary and secondary sources cited

Primary peer  reviewed sources

 

Structure

Organization

Logic

Coherence

Clarity

Loose, rambling, incoherent, confused, vague

Adequate but with some vagueness and confusion

Plain but with evidence of introduction, body and conclusion

Well developed argument, Introduction, body and conclusions connected

Well developed argument with Introduction body and conclusions connected and convincing

Excellent

The best No criticisms worth making

Style

Expression

Vocabulary

Clarity

Bad, limited, uninteresting, awkward.

The basics but vague and confused

Plain but with few difficulties evident

Well done and competent, Signs of distinct style developed

Well done competent with clearly recognizable style

Writer in control

Award winning

Mechanics

Grammar

Spelling

 

Many spelling and grammatical errors (6 per page)

Some spelling and grammatical errors 2 per page

Very simplistic sentence structure but Spelling and Grammatical errors at a minimum

Complex sentences with but with errors

Complex sentences with few errors

Complex sentences with no errors

Suitable for publication

Imagination

Originality

Creativity

Innovation

Interest

Lacking originality interest or creativity.

Lacking or misapplied or irrelevant

Shows some elements

Signs of creativity, original ideas but not well developed or supported

Strong signs of originality and creativity well developed and supported, Quirky but interesting

Stimulating, perceptive,

Insightful,

Mature. Interesting

Innovative and interesting, a work of art

Format

No references Inappropriate font style and size

References lacking questionable sources,

Reference list weak, inappropriate style

Good sources cited with accuracy, web resources systematically evaluated use a recognized format

Good sources, reference list well organized uses a recognized format

References well organized Uses the required format consistently

Excellent

Superior, suitable for publication