Final Exam Essay Rubric

Criteria Level 1 (50-59%) Level 2 (60-69%) Level 3 (70-79%) Level 4 (80-100%)

Knowledge and Understanding /25

Do you understand your core text(s)? Only appears to understand the surface Demonstrates sufficient understanding of the Demonstrates good understanding of the Demonstrates a deep understanding of the

 meaning of the text. Makes limited and vague text. Makes vague references to events, text. Makes some specific references to text. Frequently makes specific references to

 references to events, characters, motifs, and characters, motifs, and themes in the text. events, characters, motifs, and themes in the events, characters, motifs, and themes in the

 themes in the text. text. text.

 Demonstrates some understanding of

 Demonstrates limited understanding of themes, concepts and ideas.
 Demonstrates a good understanding of Articulates sophisticated understanding of

 themes, concepts and ideas.
 
 themes, concepts and ideas.
 themes, concepts and ideas.

Understanding of proper essay format of 
 
 
 

the style of essay chosen (literary Limited understanding of proper essay Some understanding of proper essay Good understanding of proper essay Sophisticated understanding of proper essay
analysis, compare & contrast, etc) structure for style chosen structure for style chosen structure for style chosen structure for style chosen

Thinking and Inquiry /25

Is your thesis clear, arguable, and Thesis is unclear or not arguable. 
 Subject of paper is clear, but thesis needs Thesis is coherent and arguable. 
 Thesis is coherent, arguable, and creative.

interesting?
 
 clarification.
 
 


 
 
 Three sub-arguments are insightful and

 Two sub-arguments are present.
 Three sub-arguments are present, but there Three sub-arguments are clear and distinct. 
 distinct. 

Do your sub-arguments support your 
 is repetition of ideas in arguments. 

thesis?

 
 Chosen evidence from primary text Chosen evidence from primary text mostly Chosen evidence from primary text is always
Does your evidence (quotes/paraphrases) Chosen evidence from primary text rarely sometimes supports arguments (irrelevant/ supports arguments. relevant and supports arguments (spot on).
support your arguments? supports arguments (irrelevant/ vague). vague).

Communication /35

Have you clearly organized your ideas Several organizational and structural issues. 
 One or two organizational structural issues. 
 Basic essay format is followed and has no Essay structure is organized and has an
around a coherent thesis? 
 
 
 significant organizational or structural issues. 
 excellent flow with a great introduction, body

 Explanation of primary evidence is limited. Explanation of primary evidence somewhat and conclusion. 

Have you successfully explained your The reader is forced to make connections supports arguments and connects to thesis Explanation of primary 

primary evidence? between evidence and arguments or thesis. (unclear/vague). evidence supports arguments and connects Explanation of primary evidence strengthens
back to thesis. arguments and connects back to thesis.
Contains irrelevant and/or inaccurate May contain a mix of relevant and irrelevant
information and/or confuses the difference information and/or may confuse the Attempts to discriminate between relevant Effectively discriminates between relevant
between fact and opinion difference between fact and opinion. and irrelevant information, and between fact and irrelevant information and between fact
and opinion. and opinion.
Have you clearly expressed your ideas? Exhibits an attempt to organize ideas into a Exhibits the basic structure but lacks the

 beginning, middle and end, but lacks coherence of consistent claims, evidence and Exhibits logical and coherent structure with Exhibits logical and coherent structure with
coherence.
 interpretations.
 claims, evidence and interpretations that claims, evidence and interpretations that
support the thesis. convincingly support the thesis.


Communicates ideas with limited confidence. Communicates ideas with some confidence. Communicates ideas considerable Communicates ideas with a high degree of
confidence. confidence.

Application /15

The extent to which the writing reveals proper Uses language that is imprecise or unsuitable Relies on basic vocabulary (e.g. incorrect Uses appropriate language that is usually Stylistically sophisticated use of language that
MLA format (in-text citations), formal (e.g. incorrect subject/verb agreement, use of pronoun antecedent agreement, incorrect precise. (e.g. may incorrectly use homonyms).
 is engaging and precise (error-free; e.g. proper
academic writing conventions, spelling, slang or contractions).
 spelling of basic words).
 punctuation of complex sentences).

punctuation, paragraphing, capitalization, Incorporates a considerable amount of variety
grammar, word usage and proper citation for Reveals a confused understanding of how to Reveals a limited awareness of how to vary in sentence structures.
 Effectively incorporates a variety of sentence
long and short quotations. write in complete sentences and little or no sentences and relies on simple, repetitive structures.

ability to vary sentence patterns. sentence/ paragraph structure.
 Few errors made in regard to spelling,
grammar and punctuation. Very few to no errors made in regard to
Frequent errors made in regard to spelling, Some errors made in regard to spelling, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
grammar and punctuation.
 grammar and punctuation. Demonstrates control of MLA format (title
page, works cited, spelling, punctuation, Demonstrates flawless control of MLA format
Demonstrates limited control of MLA format Demonstrates an emerging control of MLA proper citation for long and short quotations, (title page, works cited, spelling, punctuation,
(title page, works cited, spelling, punctuation, format (title page, works cited, spelling, etc.). proper citation for long and short quotations,
proper citation for long and short quotations, punctuation, proper citation for long and short etc.).
etc.). quotations, etc.).