CRITERIA FOR GRADING 101 ESSAYS

1. THESIS
1. You did not provide a thesis.
2. You assumed a thesis but did not state it. Or you stated a thesis, but the thesis was vague or too broad. =
3. You provided an adequate thesis.
4. You provided an outstanding thesis that vividly sets up your description.
2. DEVELOPMENT
1. You had neither topic sentences nor logical development.
2. Your topic sentences were week.
   
1. You had topic sentences, but they were not logical.
2. You had logical development, but you did not provide topic sentences.
3. You had topic sentences, but they did not support your thesis.
4. You had topic sentences, but they were too broad.
3. You had both topic sentences and logical development. These provide a competent but uninspired framework for your description.
4. You had excellent topic sentences and logical development.
3. DETAIL
• 1.
  • a. You provide no details.
  • b. You provide details in an apparently random order.
• 2.
  • a. You provide some details, but they are too general and vague.
  • b. You provide some details, but too many do not belong where you place them.
• 3. You provide details in the proper places and provide a general picture of what you are describing.
• 4. Your details invoke a clear image of what you are describing.
4. WRITING THE ESSAY
• 1. Your essay lacks coherence and cohesion. Transitions are ineffective. The paragraphs read like a list, with no connection between the sentences
• 2. The paragraphs have a general focus, but some sentences are unrelated. Coherence, cohesion, and transitions need work.
• 3. Paragraphs are generally well developed with fewer than three problems of focus, unity, or coherence. Transitions may be a bit forced.
• 4. Paragraphs are focused, unified, and coherent. Transitions are logical and effective.
5. GRAMMAR
• 1. You exceeded the maximum allowable number of serious grammatical mistakes (15 for this essay), automatically dropping your grade to an "F."
• 2. You had 10-15 grammatical errors, making the highest grade you can receive on this essay a "D."
• 3. You had 5-9 errors.
• 4. You had 1-4 errors.

NARRATIVE ESSAY

• 1. You selected a topic that offers no potential for insight into your life or character.
• 2.
  • a. You selected a topic that is so common that it offers little insight into your unique personality.
  • b. You selected a topic that you have no emotional distance from; therefore, you were unable to handle it effectively.
• 3. You selected a topic that is generally acceptable.
• 4. You selected an outstanding and interesting topic.

• 1.
  • a. The parameters for your essay were far too broad, leading you to skim over the events of the story. You tried to tell too much.
  • b. You did not include events crucial to the understanding of the event.
• 2.
  • a. Your parameters were too broad, reducing the amount you could focus on the events.
  • b. You left out elements of the story that would have helped the understanding of the event.
• 3. You used adequate narrative techniques.
• 4. You excellently used narrative techniques such as flashback, flashforward, etc.

• 1.
  • a. You provide no detail or dialogue.
  • b. You provide details in an apparently random order
• 2.
  • a. You provide some details, but they are too general and vague.
  • b. You provide some details, but too many do not belong where you place them.
• 3. You provide detail and dialogue in the proper places and provide a general picture of what you are describing.
• 4. Your detail and dialogue invoke a clear image of what you are describing.

E. GRAMMAR (Same as before except for the number of mistakes permitted)

1. 12+ errors. 2. 9-11 errors. 3. 4-7 errors. 4. 1-3 errors.

PROPOSAL ESSAY

1. You did not provide a proposal.
2. • a. You assumed a proposal but did not state it.
   • b. You stated a proposal, but it was vague or too broad.
   • c. You stated a general solution, but did not provide your audience with a specific action to take.
   • d. You provided an audience with a proposal, but there is some question whether your audience an act on it.
   • 
     
   • e. If the audience followed your recommendation, it would not have the desired effect.
3. You provided an adequate proposal.
4. You provided an outstanding proposal will probably bring about the change you desire.

1. You did not address an audience.
2. • a. Your audience was too broad (for example, you addressed the "readers of Time).
   • b. You started with one audience, but switched to another one.
3. Your audience was fairly well defined.
4. Your audience was well defined and you did an excellent job of addressing it.

1. You had neither topic sentences nor logical development.
2. • a. You had topic sentences, but they were not logical.
   • 
     
   • b. You had logical development, but you did not provide topic sentences.
   • c. You had topic sentences, but they did not support your thesis.
   • d. You had topic sentences that did not address the self-interest of your audience.
3. You had both topic sentences and logical development. These provide a competent but uninspired framework for your argument.
4. You had excellent topic sentences and logical development.

1. • a. You provide no support
   • b. You provide support in an apparently random order.
2. • a. You provide some support, but they are too general and vague.
   • b. You provide some support, but too many do not belong where you place them.
   • c. Your support is of the "crank" variety; i.e., it is unreflective and uninformed and simply reflects popular stereotypes on the subject rather than careful research.
3. You provide support in the proper places and give a basic case for your argument.
4. Your support is clear and provides a forceful case for your argument.

1. Your essay lacks coherence and cohesion. Transitions are ineffective. The paragraphs read like a list, with no connection between the sentences
2. The paragraphs have a general focus, but some sentences are unrelated. Coherence, cohesion, and transitions need work.
3. Paragraphs are generally well developed with fewer than three problems of focus, unity, or coherence. Transitions may be a bit forced.
4. Paragraphs are focused, unified, and coherent. Transitions are logical and effective.

1. 10+ errors.
2. 9 errors.
3. 4-8 errors.
4. 1-3 errors.