301 Editorial Rubric, By Leslie Bruce

SLO

Write for a
specific
audience and
purpose.

Absent or
Below Basic
Audience's
needs are
often not
recognized:
terms and
ideas need
explanation
and language
needs
adjustment for
the audience.
Purpose (to
argue a
position
persuasively)
isn't clear or
achieved.

Developing
Shows some
attention to
audience's
needs,
sometimes
defining
necessary
terms and
ideas and
using
audienceappropriate
language.
Purpose (to
argue a
position
persuasively)
may be
unclear at
times, and it
may not be
achieved
convincingly.

Proficient

Advanced

Usually shows
attention to
audience's
needs,
defining
necessary
terms and
ideas and
using
audienceappropriate
language.
Purpose (to
argue a
position
persuasively)
may be
implied, but
it's clear and
achieved.

Shows
sophisticated
attention to
audience's
needs,
defining
necessary
terms and
ideas and
using
audienceappropriate
language.
Purpose (to
argue a
position
persuasively)
is clear and
achieved with
style.

I am glad that
you defined
your many
scientific
words so that I
could gain a
better
knowledge of
what you were
talking about.
I also think
you did a good
job with
addressing
counterarguments
and rebutting
with your own
argument. It
was clear that
you were
against going
to local
Southern
Californian
beaches.

Find, evaluate,
select,
synthesize,
organize,
ethically cite,
and present
information
from a variety
of sources
appropriate to
their
disciplines.

Omits or uses
incorrectly
MLA- or APAstyle
parenthetical
citations,
quotation
marks, and
works cited
list. Drops
quotations
and ideas into
text without
introducing
source.
Frequently
uses irrelevant
or
unpersuasive
sources or
relies
exclusively on
one source.

A few errors in
MLA- or APAstyle
parenthetical
citations,
quotation
marks, and
works cited
list. Often
includes
sources
without
introduction in
cases when
introduction is
necessary.
Sometimes
relies too
heavily on a
single source
or uses
irrelevant or
unpersuasive
sources.

Correctly uses
MLA- or APAstyle
parenthetical
citations,
quotation
marks, and
works cited
list. Usually
introduces
each source
fully (as
necessary)
reader knows
who did the
research or
communicatin
g, for whom,
and why. Use
of sources is
usually
diverse,
relevant and
persuasive.

Correctly uses
MLA- or APAstyle
parenthetical
citations,
quotation
marks, and
works cited
list.
Introduces
each source
fully (as
necessary)
reader knows
who did the
research or
communicatin
g, for whom,
and why. Use
of sources is
always
diverse,
relevant and
persuasive.

First of all,
there were
some missing
dates when
you were
citing your
references but
only a few.
With the
graphs I might
recommend
that you name
them as Figure
1 and Figure
2. I believe
that this is the
proper way to
point out
which figures
you are
looking at. If
you decide to
do that, you
also need to
label Figure 1
or Figure 2
under the
graphs. Also,
make sure to
include your
reference list.

Fails to
support
claims with
Compare,
relevant
contrast, and
reasoning
synthesize
and/or
carefully and
objectively the specific
relative merits evidence.
Objectivity
of alternative
and a
or opposing
arguments,
controlling
assumptions,
idea may be
and cultural
lacking.
values.

4 Organize

ones
thoughts and
communicate
them clearly
and
persuasively
to address a
rhetorical
situation.

Organization
al devices
(controlling
idea,
headings,
subheadings,
topic
sentences,
transitions)
may be
absent,
unrelated to
the prompt,
or illogically
connected.
Ps contain

Attempts to
support
claims with
reasoning
and
evidence,
but
specificity
and/or
objectivity
may be
lacking. A
controlling
idea may be
missing or
implied.

Usually
supports the
controlling
idea and
paragraph
claims with
relevant,
thorough,
and
insightful
reasoning
and specific
evidence.
Usually
maintains
objectivity.

Supports the
controlling
idea and
paragraph
claims with
relevant,
thorough,
and
insightful
reasoning
and specific
evidence.
Maintains
objectivity.

You provide
excellent
evidence for
your
arguments
such as
information
from the CDC.
Is there a way
to give a little
more evidence
for your
counterarguments?
This might
give you a
way to add to
your paper.

Organization
al devices
(controlling
idea,
headings,
subheadings,
topic
sentences,
transitions)
fit the
prompt, but
may be
vague, too
broad, or
inconsistenly
or illogically

Clear
organization
al devices
(controlling
idea,
headings,
subheadings,
topic
sentences,
transitions)
fit the
prompt and
tie ideas and
topics
together
adequately.

Clear,
specific
organization
al devices
(thesis, topic
sentences,
headings,
transitions)
fit the
prompt and
tie ideas and
topics
together
logically and
seamlessly.
Paragraphs

To me you
seemed to
be lacking
transition
sentences.
Shouldn't be
too hard if
you give it
some
thought. Your
thesis and
topic
sentences
were good at
informing me
what the

Recognize,
evaluate, and
employ the
features and
contexts of
language and
design that
express and
5 influence
meaning and
that
demonstrate
sensitivity to
gender and
cultural
differences.

multiple
topics or are
disorganized.

linked. Ps
may not be
unified.

Ps are
usually
unified.

are unified.

paragrapg
will be about.

Spelling,
syntax,
diction, or
punctuation
errors
impede
readability.
Lanuage may
reflect a
gender or
cultural bias.
Design may
be
unconventio
nal and
ineffective.

Spelling,
syntax,
diction, or
punctuation
errors often
impede
readability or
otherwise
distract from
meaning.
Lanuage may
occasionally
suggest a
gender or
cultural bias.
Design may
be
inconvention
al or
ineffective.

Spelling,
syntax,
diction, or
punctuation
errors are
few and do
not distract
from
meaning.
Lanuage
respects
gender and
cultural
differences.
Design is
conventional
and
effective.

Outstanding
control of
language,
including
effective
diction and
sentence
variety.
Lanuage
respects
gender and
cultural
differences.
Design is
conventional
and
effective.

Very minor
spelling errors.
I felt that you
respected all
genders and
cultures in
your editorial.