Score of 6

An essay in this category is outstanding, demonstrating clear and consistent mastery, although it may have a few minor errors. A typical essay:

· 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

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

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

· demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure

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

Score of 5

An essay in this category is effective, demonstrating reasonably consistent mastery, although it will have occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay:

· 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

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

· exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary

· demonstrates variety in sentence structure

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

Score of 4

An essay in this category is competent, demonstrating adequate mastery, although it will have lapses in quality.

A typical essay:

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

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

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

· demonstrates some variety in sentence structure

· has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Score of 3

An essay in this category is minimally adequate, but demonstrates developing mastery, and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:

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

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

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

· lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure

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

Score of 2

An essay in this category is seriously limited, demonstrating little mastery, and is flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weakness:

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

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

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

· demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure

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

Score of 1

An essay in this category demonstrates very little or no mastery, and is severely flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:

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

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

· displays fundamental errors in vocabulary

· demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure

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