ESSAY fully addresses the TOPIC. THESIS (statement of writer's argument) is defendable, clearly focused, and effectively explained. The writer is aware of the COMPLEXITIES of his/her subject matter, and clearly incorporates sufficient EVIDENCE (paraphrase and quotation from the texts) to support the thesis.

The essay is well ordered. The relationship between the parts is clear and transitions are fluent. Quotation from primary material is used to support the writer's argument; there is an appropriate balance between providing evidence from the text(s) and analyzing that evidence within the essay. The relationship between evidence and argument is consistently clear.

The writer has a special concern for the best word or phrase to express his/her ideas, and effectively uses a variety of sentence and paragraph types and lengths. Punctuation is used flexibly to allow this variety. The writer is aware of the reader's response.

There are no significant errors in grammar, usage, presentation (format, title page etc.), or proofreading. All quotations or close paraphrases are acknowledged with appropriate citations (footnotes and endnotes are suggested for this paper. If you wish to use other forms of citation, please see me first).

ESSAY addresses the TOPIC, but may not do so completely. The writer's THESIS may be clear and well argued, but could use additional support or development of ideas and issues. Some evidence may detract from the thesis and some ideas may not be fully worked out.

The writer has stylistic choices available and makes effective use of simple constructions with some variety of sentence type and length. Word choice is adequate.

There are no significant errors in grammar, usage, presentation, proofreading, or citation.

ESSAY does not fully address the TOPIC. THESIS may not be very clear, and may demonstrate insufficient awareness of the complexity of issues or evidence. The writer needs further EVIDENCE to support the thesis, or a stronger balance between evidence and analysis.

There is order imposed on the writer's work, but the relationship among parts is not consistently clear enough to provide a coherent focus. Points may tend toward the self-evident, or the undeveloped.

The range of words is limiting, and may be too general. The writer demonstrates a basic control of grammar, usage, proofreading, and presentation.

ESSAY discusses the assigned text and meets basic length requirements, but the writer reveals no overall focus in the essay, which may wander from the TOPIC or fail to address major elements of the topic. THESIS is unclear and/or relation of evidence to thesis uncertain.

Vocabulary is limited and limiting. There is a lack (or unnecessary excess) of quotation.

Errors in grammar, usage, proofreading, presentation, or citation interfere in the reader's understanding of the essay.