SCORE OF 6 Outstanding demonstrates clear and consistent Mastery but may contain a few minor errors

Writing of this quality:

SCORE OF 5 Effective demonstrates reasonably consistent mastery but may have occasional errors or lapses in quality

Writing of this quality:

SCORE OF 4 Competent demonstrates adequate mastery but may have lapses in quality

Writing of this quality:

SCORE OF 3 Developing demonstrates developing mastery but is marked by one or more of the following weaknesses

Writing of this quality:

SCORE OF 2 Emerging demonstrates little mastery and is seriously limited by one or more of the following weaknesses

Writing of this quality:

SCORE OF 1 Fundamentally Limited demonstrates very little or no mastery and is severely limited by one or more of the following

Writing of this quality:

effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position

effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position

develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position

point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, but may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position

develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, and demonstrates weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufficient examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position

develops no viable point of view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to support its position

is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas

is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas

is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas

is limited in its organization or focus, or may demonstrate some lapses in coherence or progression of ideas

is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas

is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay

exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary

exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary

exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary

displays developing facility in the use of language, but sometimes uses weak vocabulary or inappropriate word choice

displays very little facility in the use of language, using very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice

displays fundamental errors in vocabulary

demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure

demonstrates variety in sentence structure

demonstrates some variety in sentence structure

lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure

demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure

demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure

is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

contains errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics so serious that meaning is somewhat obscured

contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that persistently interfere with meaning