SEEKONK HIGH SCHOOL

SOCIAL STUDIES WRITING RUBRIC

Exceeds Standard-4
Introduction

Thesis Statement

Support of Thesis
Evidence_____/4
Analysis _____/4

Organization &
Structure

Conclusion
Citations

Meets Standard-3

Emerging-2

Little or No Attempt
Made-1/0

Effectively and insightfully develops a

clear, analytical, and comprehensive
roadmap that provides focus to the
writing
Effectively states a position that
promotes a response from the reader
Clearly and accurately addresses the
prompt

Develops a reasonable roadmap

that provides focus to the writing

Develops a roadmap that

provides a limited focus to the
writing

Fails to develop a clear roadmap

or lacks a thesis

States a reasonable position

Provides a limited position

Inadequately or fails to

Demonstrates sophisticated critical

Demonstrates competent

Demonstrates some critical

thinking by using comprehensive

examples, reasons, and supporting
evidence that is historically relevant
and accurate.
Presents information with a clear
coherence and smooth, logical
progression of ideas
Use a variety of highly effective word

choices
Develops a variety of sophisticated
sentence structures
Utilizes appropriate language
conventions of grammar, spelling,
punctuation, and usage that are free of
most errors

Provides effective and complex closure

that synthesizes ideas

Includes proper in-text citations

Provides a proper works cited page
Used proper MLA format
No errors

that promotes a response from

the reader
Accurately addresses the
prompt

critical thinking by using

adequate examples, reasons,
and supporting evidence that is
historically relevant and
accurate.
Presents information with
coherence and a logical
continuity of ideas
Uses a variety of generally
effective word choices
Develops some variety of
sentence structures
Utilizes appropriate language
conventions of grammar,
spelling, punctuation, and
usage that demonstrate few
errors

Provides effective closure which

summarizes the main points

Provides in-text citations

Provides a works cited page
Used proper MLA format
Minor errors in either in-text
citations or works cited page

that promotes a response from

the reader
Minimally addresses the
prompt
thinking by using examples,
reasons, and supporting
evidence that may be weakly
supported and/or historically
irrelevant or inaccurate
Presents information with
some lapses in coherence or
progression of ideas
Sometimes uses weak
vocabulary or inappropriate
word choice
Develops sentence structures
that lack variety or
demonstrate problems
Utilizes language conventions
of grammar, spelling,
punctuation, and usage with
errors which somewhat
interfere with meaning
Provides some sense of closure

Provides some in-text

citations
Provides a works cited page
Did not use proper MLA
format
Significant errors

provide a position that

promotes a response from the
reader
Inadequately or fails to address
the prompt
Uses poor critical thinking and
inappropriate or insufficient
examples, reasons, and
supporting evidence that is
historically irrelevant and
inaccurate.
Presents ideas that are
disjointed or incoherent
Uses incorrect or simplistic

vocabulary

Develops sentence structures

with severe flaws or frequent

problems
Utilizes language conventions
of grammar, spelling,
punctuation, and usage with
frequent inaccuracies which
interfere with meaning
Fails to provide sufficient closure

Fails to include in-text

Fails to include a works cited
page
Excessive errors