A+ to A-	B+ to B-	C+ to C-	D+ to D-	F
1	Clearly stated, detailed, and appropriate thesis	Thesis is appropriate to the topic and clearly stated	Contains a thesis, but may not be entirely appropriate or clearly stated	Fails to state a clear thesis or thesis demonstrates a lack of understanding of the topic	Thesis not stated or inappropriate to the topic
2	Introduction is well-written and adequately previews the main points of the essay	Adequately previews the main points of the essay	Introduction previews most of the main points of the essay (may contain some inappropriate information or poor writing)	Introduction fails to preview the essay, is unclear, or contains inappropriate/irrelevant information
3	Possesses a meaningful conclusion that is not redundant	Possesses a meaningful conclusion	Possesses only a simplistic conclusion that does not add value to the essay	Conclusion is unclear and/or not closely related to the thesis	Totally lacks a conclusion
4	Fully responds to the question and includes no irrelevant information	Covers major topics (may not give appropriate development to all topics or omit some areas)	Omits one or more topics and/or includes irrelevant information	Omits several major topics	Omits all major topics
5	Easily identifiable, outstanding main points (good topic sentences)	Identifiable and appropriate main points	One or more main points may not be clearly stated, appropriate, or understandable	Main points are often not clear, appropriate, or easily identifiable	Main points are not clear or easily identifiable
6	Main points are extensively defended/supported with well-chosen evidence	All main points are defended/supported	Not all main points are adequately defended/supported	Main points are often poorly supported or undefended with evidence	Main points are poorly supported or undefended with evidence
7	Free from all factual errors and false implications	Free from major factual errors and false implications	Contains one or more significant factual errors	Contains factual errors that cast doubt on the student's understanding of the material	Contains significant factual errors that cast doubt on the student's understanding of the material
8	Argument is clear and convincing	Argument is generally clear and convincing but has some deficiencies	Argument supports the thesis but has major deficiencies	Argument generally fails to support the thesis	Argument is totally unconvincing
9	Shows a consistent effort to analyze as well as explain events	Makes an effort to include analysis as well as explanation	Purely Explanatory
10	Writing is well organized and easy to follow	Writing is generally well-organized and easy to follow (may include some awkward areas)	Some portions are poorly organized and/ or include unclear areas, poor word choices, repetitiveness, or awkwardness	Writing is often unclear, repetitive, or awkward	Writing is unclear or awkward
11	Free of writing errors or errors are extremely insignificant	Free of most writing errors	Contains several easily avoidable writing errors	Contains numerous writing errors that detract from the understanding of the essay	Contains numerous significant writing errors that detract from the understanding of the essay
Essay Grade =		Writing Errors Checklist	Conjunctions	Cap./Punctuation	Tense
Lost Points =			Omissions	Subject-verb agreement	Third Person