EA Grading Standards for Writing

EA Grading Standards for Writing

The Episcopal Academy Upper School English Department

Grading Standards for Written Assignments

2013-2014

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The A Range Essay – An essay in this category is outstanding, demonstrating clear and consistent mastery, although it may have a few minor errors.

1. Is there a clear thesis and does the paper adhere to the thesis? Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the topic. Demonstrates outstanding critical thinking and a thorough understanding of the text.

2. Is there ample and appropriate concrete support? Uses clearly appropriate examples, reasons, literary terms, or other evidence to support its position.

3. Is there an organizational plan? Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating logical coherence and a smooth and graceful progression of ideas.

4. Are words used effectively? Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary.

5. Are the sentences effective? Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure.

6. Is the grammar correct? Is free of all errors in grammar, usage, mechanics, and citations.

_________________________________________________________________________________________The B Range Essay – An essay in this category is skillful, demonstrating reasonably consistent mastery, although it will have occasional errors or lapses in quality.

1. Is there a clear thesis and does the paper adhere to the thesis? Effectively develops a point of view on the issue. Demonstrates strong critical thinking and a solid understanding of the text.

2. Is there ample and appropriate concrete support? Generally uses appropriate examples, reasons, literary terms, or other evidence to support its position. Avoids excessive plot summary.

3. Is there an organizational plan? Is organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and a progression of ideas.

4. Are words used effectively? Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary.

5. Are the sentences effective? Demonstrates variety in sentence structure.

6. Is the grammar correct? Is generally free of errors in grammar, usage, mechanics, and citations.

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The C Range Essay – An essay in this category is inadequate, but demonstrates developing mastery, and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:

1. Is there a clear thesis and does the paper adhere to the thesis? Develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, but may do so inconsistently.

2. Is there ample and appropriate concrete support? Uses inadequate or insufficient examples, reasons, literary terms, or other evidence to support its position. Relies on plot summary more than analysis.

3. Is there an organizational plan? Is limited in its organization or focus, and demonstrates lapses in coherence or progression of ideas.

4. Are words used effectively? Tends towards weak vocabulary or inappropriate word choice.

5. Are the sentences effective? Lacks sentence variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure.

6. Is the grammar correct? Contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, mechanics, and/or citations.

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

1. Is there a clear thesis and does the paper adhere to the thesis? Develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, demonstrating weak critical thinking.

2. Is there ample and appropriate concrete support? Provides few to no examples, reasons, literary terms, or other evidence to support its position. Relies on plot summary instead of analysis.

3. Is there an organizational plan? Is poorly organized and/or focused, and demonstrates serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas.

4. Are words used effectively? Displays very little facility in the use of language, using very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice.

5. Are the sentences effective? Demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure.

6. Is the grammar correct? Contains errors in grammar and usage so serious that meaning is obscured. Mechanics and/or citations are flawed or non-existent.

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The F essay – An essay in this category is fundamentally lacking, demonstrating very little or no mastery, and is severely flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:

1. Is there a clear thesis and does the paper adhere to the thesis? Develops no viable point of view on the issue.

2. Is there ample and appropriate concrete support? Provides few or no examples, reasons, literary terms, or other evidence to support its position.

3. Is there an organizational plan? Is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay.

4. Are words used effectively? Displays fundamental errors in vocabulary.

5. Are the sentences effective? Demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure.

6. Is the grammar correct? Contains pervasive errors in grammar and usage that persistently interfere with meaning. Mechanics and/or citations are flawed or non-existent.

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