301 Editorial Rubric, By Leslie Bruce

SLO

Absent or Below Basic

Audience's needs are often
not recognized: terms and
ideas need explanation and
language needs adjustment
for the audience. Purpose
Write for a specific
(to argue a position
audience and purpose. persuasively) isn't clear or
achieved.

Developing
Shows some attention to
audience's needs,
sometimes defining
necessary terms and ideas
and using audienceappropriate language.
Purpose (to argue a position
persuasively) may be
unclear at times, and it may
not be achieved
convincingly.

Proficient
Usually shows attention to
audience's needs, defining
necessary terms and ideas and
using audience-appropriate
language. Purpose (to argue a
position persuasively) may be
implied, but it's clear and
achieved.

Omits or uses incorrectly

MLA- or APA-style
parenthetical citations,
quotation marks, and works
cited list. Drops quotations
Find, evaluate, select,
and ideas into text without
synthesize, organize,
introducing source.
ethically cite, and
Frequently uses irrelevant
present information
or unpersuasive sources or
from a variety of
relies exclusively on one
sources appropriate to
source.
their disciplines.

A few errors in MLA- or APAstyle parenthetical citations,

quotation marks, and works
cited list. Often includes
sources without introduction
in cases when introduction is
necessary. Sometimes
relies too heavily on a single
source or uses irrelevant or
unpersuasive sources.

Correctly uses MLA- or APAstyle parenthetical citations,

quotation marks, and works
cited list. Usually introduces
each source fully (as necessary)
reader knows who did the
research or communicating, for
whom, and why. Use of sources
is usually diverse, relevant and
persuasive.

Fails to support claims

with relevant reasoning
Compare, contrast,
and/or specific evidence.
and synthesize
Objectivity and a
carefully and
objectively the relative controlling idea may be
merits of alternative or lacking.
opposing arguments,
assumptions, and
cultural values.

Organize ones
thoughts and
communicate them
4 clearly and
persuasively to
address a rhetorical
situation.

Organizational devices
(controlling idea,
headings, subheadings,
topic sentences,
transitions) may be
absent, unrelated to the
prompt, or illogically
connected. Ps contain
multiple topics or are
disorganized.

Spelling, syntax, diction,

or punctuation errors
impede readability.
Recognize, evaluate, Lanuage may reflect a
and employ the
gender or cultural bias.
features and contexts
Design may be
of language and
unconventional and
design that express
5
and influence meaning ineffective.
and that demonstrate
sensitivity to gender
and cultural
differences.

Attempts to support
claims with reasoning and
evidence, but specificity
and/or objectivity may be
lacking. A controlling idea
may be missing or
implied.

Usually supports the

controlling idea and
paragraph claims with
relevant, thorough, and
insightful reasoning and
specific evidence. Usually
maintains objectivity.

Organizational devices
(controlling idea,
headings, subheadings,
topic sentences,
transitions) fit the prompt,
but may be vague, too
broad, or inconsistenly or
illogically linked. Ps may
not be unified.

Clear organizational devices

(controlling idea, headings,
subheadings, topic
sentences, transitions) fit the
prompt and tie ideas and
topics together adequately.
Ps are usually unified.

Spelling, syntax, diction, Spelling, syntax, diction, or

or punctuation errors often punctuation errors are few
impede readability or
and do not distract from
otherwise distract from
meaning. Lanuage respects
meaning. Lanuage may
gender and cultural
occasionally suggest a
differences. Design is
gender or cultural bias.
conventional and effective.
Design may be
inconventional or
ineffective.

Advanced
Shows sophisticated attention
to audience's needs, defining
necessary terms and ideas and
using audience-appropriate
language. Purpose (to argue a
position persuasively) is clear
and achieved with style.

Correctly uses MLA- or APAstyle parenthetical citations,

quotation marks, and works
cited list. Introduces each
source fully (as necessary)
reader knows who did the
research or communicating, for
whom, and why. Use of
sources is always diverse,
relevant and persuasive.

Supports the controlling idea

and paragraph claims with
relevant, thorough, and
insightful reasoning and
specific evidence. Maintains
objectivity.

Clear, specific organizational

devices (thesis, topic
sentences, headings,
transitions) fit the prompt
and tie ideas and topics
together logically and
seamlessly. Paragraphs are
unified.

Outstanding control of
language, including effective
diction and sentence variety.
Lanuage respects gender
and cultural differences.
Design is conventional and
effective.