Malden High School Critical Thinking Essay Rubric

Criteria 6 -Outstanding 5- Effective 4- Competent 3 – Inadequate 2 - Limited 1- Lacking

Topic and Effectively and Effectively and Develops a point Develops a point of Develops a point of Develops no
Idea insightfully develops a insightfully of view on the view on the issue, view on the issue that viable point of
Development point of view on the develops a point of issue and demonstrating some is vague or seriously view on the
issue and demonstrates view on the issue demonstrates critical thinking, but limited, issue
outstanding critical and demonstrates competent critical may do so demonstrating weak
thinking strong critical thinking inconsistently critical thinking
thinking
Uses clearly Generally uses Uses adequate May use inadequate Provides Provides little
Evidence appropriate examples, appropriate examples, reasons examples, reasons, or inappropriate or or no evidence
and detail reasons and other examples, reasons and other evidence other evidence to insufficient examples, to support its
evidence to support its and other evidence to support its support its position reasons, or other position
position to support its position evidence to support
position its position
Organizatio Well organized and Well organized and Is generally Is limited in Poorly organized Is disorganized
n clearly focused, focused, organized and organization or focus; and/or focused, or has or unfocused,
demonstrating clear demonstrating focused, may demonstrate serious problems with resulting in a
coherence and smooth coherence and demonstrating some lapses in coherence or disjointed or
progression of ideas progression of ideas some coherence coherence or progression of ideas incoherent
and progression of progression of ideas essay
ideas
Language Exhibits skillful use of Exhibits facility in Exhibits adequate Displays developing Displays little facility Displays
language, using a the use of language, but inconsistent facility in the use of in the use of fundamental
varied, accurate, and using appropriate facility in the language, but language, using very errors in
apt vocabulary vocabulary using of language, sometimes uses weak limited vocabulary or vocabulary
using generally or inappropriate word incorrect word choice
appropriate choice
vocabulary
Sentence Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Lacks variety or Demonstrates Demonstrates
Structure meaningful variety in variety in sentence some variety in demonstrates frequent problems in severe flaws in
sentence structure structure sentence structure problems in sentence sentence structure sentence
structure structure
Mechanics Is free of most errors Is generally free of Has some errors in Frequent errors in Errors in grammar, Pervasive errors
in grammar, usage and most errors in grammar, usage, grammar, usage usage, and mechanics in grammar,
mechanics grammar, usage and and mechanics seriously interfere usage, or
mechanics with meaning mechanics