ENGL110 / Lampe / Rubric for Essay One

Points

Project

Sources

Voice

Editing & Design

The writer begins with a

compelling lead, identifies and
develops an interesting bigger
picture, and creatively moves
between story and bigger
picture modes. The argument
is developed and implied.

Sources are used thoughtfully

and clearly differentiate the
writers ideas from sources
through including the authors
name. All sources are properly
cited and there are no citation
or Works Cited page
formatting mistakes.

Effective and lucid writing that

makes clear, cogent points.
Incisively-worded sentences
that display creative use of the
ladder of abstraction.
Paragraphs are coherent and
developed.

Carefully edited and free of

typos. Perfectly follows MLA
document designing and
formatting guidelines.

The essay has a good lead,

identifies and develops a
bigger picture, and moves
productively between story
and bigger picture modes.

Sources are integrated and do

not upstage the writer. One or
two minor formatting mistakes
on citations and/or Works
Cited page references.

Effective writing throughout the

essay. Sentences with crisp
phrases that thoughtfully use
the ladder of abstraction.
Organized and thoughtful
paragraphs.

Very few typos and editing

mistakes. With one or two
exceptions, follows MLA
document designing and
formatting guidelines.

The essay has a somewhat

effective lead, makes progress
toward identifying a bigger
picture, and moves somewhat
between story and bigger
picture modes. The argument
has some tension but is
ineffectively developed.

Sources are awkwardly

connected to the point or
upstage the writer. Mistakes
on several citations and/or
Works Cited page references.

The writing is clear enough in

most of the essay, but some
sentences are muddled,
vague, or unnecessarily wordy.

Some typos and editing

mistakes. Generally follows
MLA document designing and
formatting guidelines.

Essay submitted before due

date on Canvas and observes
the word count (+/- 50 words).

The essay has an

uninteresting lead, struggles to
identify a bigger picture, and
only superficially moves
between story and bigger
picture modes. The argument
is unclear.

All or nearly all citations and

references on Works Cited
page contain mistakes.

Substantial portions of the

writing are ineffective because
of vague phrasing and
wordiness.

Many typos and editing

mistakes. Poorly follows MLA
document designing and
formatting guidelines.

Essay submitted after due

date on Canvas and observes
the word count (+/- 50 words),
or essay is submitted before
due date on Canvas but does
not word count (+/- 50 words).

The essay has no lead or a

poor one, no identifiable issue,
and does not develop an
argument.

No sources are used or

sources are no cited and no
references given.*

The writing through almost all

of the essay is incoherent,
vague or unclear.

Riddled with typos and editing

mistakes. Significantly
disregards MLA formatting
guidelines.

Essay neither submitted

before due date nor observes
the word count (+/- 50 words).

*Note: Failing to cite sources is plagiarism. Final drafts of work containing plagiarism are automatically scored as a zero.

Assignment

Grade Scale
Points

Percentage Grade

23

100

22

95.7

21

91.3

A-

20

87

B+

19

82.6

B-

18

78.3

C+

17

73.9

16

69.6

D+

15

65.2

14

60.9

13

56.5