Argumentative Essay Rubric

Aspirational Acceptable Marginal Unacceptable

Intro Paragraph Thesis clearly states a relevant Thesis states a relevant position, Thesis is largely unclear or is not Thesis is completely unclear, not
position. Argument preview but is somewhat vague or unclear. directly relevant to assignment. relevant, or missing entirely. No
complete, in same order as body Preview is incomplete, not in Little identifiable preview, or preview of argument. Paragraph
Thesis of essay, not simple recitation of correct order; some recitation of preview is largely class material. consists largely of opinion, filler,
Preview of argument class material. Contains nothing class material. Nothing other Contains sentences that are or "contextualizing" material.
other than thesis and preview. than thesis and preview. neither preview nor thesis.
Body paragraphs and Main points directly develop Main points develop preview, but One or more points not clearly Ideas have little or nothing to do
Concluding paragraph preview and explicitly link to not all are explicitly linked to related to either preview or thesis. with the assignment, and/or are
thesis. No extraneous material is thesis. Little to no extraneous Extraneous material is included. poorly developed. Evident that
included. Accurate account of material is included. Most Significant errors in material reading material has not been
material from readings, restated information from readings is from readings; most information understood. Body is
in own words; any quotations are restated in own words, with errors is quoted; two quotations are Frankensteinian: largely stitched-
few, short, seamlessly integrated, being few and small; one long, inaccurate, not well- together quotes, many of which
and correctly referenced. quotation is somewhat too long, integrated, or incorrectly may also be inaccurate. More
Conclusion effectively restates not well-integrated, or incorrectly referenced. Conclusion doesn't than two references for quotations
argument. referenced. Conclusion restates effectively capture thesis and/or are missing. No conclusion, or
thesis but not full argument. argument. mere repetition of intro.
Structure Logical progression of ideas with Logical progression of ideas; Some level of High level of disorganization or
Transitions a clear argumentative structure. argumentative structure can be disorganization/lacunae disrupts large lacunae. More than one
Transitions are graceful. followed although it is not clearly progression of ideas. transition is missing.
developed. All transitions are Argumentative structure not easy
present. to follow. A transition is missing.
Sentences Writing is clear, concise, and Writing is clear and coherent, but Writing is clear, but sometimes Writing is unclear, confusing,
Diction coherent. Sentences are strong sometimes wordy. Sentences lacks coherence or is often wordy. incoherent, or verbose. Contains
Mechanics and expressive, with varied have varied structure. There are Sentences lack variety. One fragments and/or run-on
Format structure. There are no questions. no questions. Diction is usually question appears. Diction is often sentences. Two or more questions
Diction is consistently appropriate to formal writing. No inappropriate. Two philosophical are included. Inappropriate
appropriate to formal writing. All more than one philosophical or or other words are inaccurate or diction. Three or more
language is accurate and used other word is inaccurate or used used incorrectly. There are three philosophical or other words are
correctly. No errors in incorrectly. There are no more to five errors in punctuation, inaccurate or used incorrectly.
punctuation, spelling, than two errors in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization. Two Six or more errors in punctuation,
capitalization. Essay has a title, spelling, or capitalization. One format errors. spelling, or capitalization. More
author's name on each page, all format error. than two format errors.
pages numbered, 12 point font,
easily legible print.
My thanks to Dr DeSoto of Glendale Community College for access to her ENG 101 rubric, which helped in developing this one.