Name: Period: Collection 1: Finding Common Ground Argumentative Essay Rubric Exemplary (4) Proficient (3) Approaching (2) Struggling (1) Thesis is clear and complex; Thesis is clear and focused with a Thesis addresses the prompt Thesis is unclear/does not includes supporting reasons relevant idea; includes supporting with an idea; however, idea is address ideas in prompt that connect directly to the reasons, however reasons are vague not specific or is too general prompt Thesis does not include supporting reasons Thesis Claims respond to the thesis Claims respond to the thesis in a clear Claims respond to thesis Claims connect to the thesis in in a clear way with a specific way an unclear way OR do not idea from thesis connect to thesis at all Claims Selects a variety of detailed, Selects a variety of relevant evidence Selects evidence that generally Evidence for claims is not a relevant evidence; evidence that is sufficient to support claim; supports claims; evidence is direct quote OR is missing OR of clearly and accurately evidence clearly supports claims weakly related to claim evidence is not related to claim supports claims Evidence Selection Explanation is clear analysis Explanation is relevant analysis that Explanation partially explains Explanation is limited, that accurately explains how explains how the selected evidence how selected evidence supports consisting mostly of repeating, the selected evidence supports supports claim; however analysis at claims or statements; may still rewording, and/or summarizing of claims or statements times may be vague, illogical, or contain some repeating, the evidence overly general rewording, and/or summarizing of evidence Evidence Explanation Paragraphs are connected and Paragraphs are connected and logically Paragraphs partially build on Paragraphs do not clearly build logically build upon one build upon one another. one another. on one another. another to deepen Transitions are somewhat varied and Transition words/phrases are No transition words/phrases understanding of ideas. appropriately used. used, but are often formulaic used, or used incorrectly. Transitions are varied, and and/or used incorrectly. appropriately and effectively used. Organization
Name: Period: Collection 1: Finding Common Ground Argumentative Essay Rubric Exemplary (4) Proficient (3) Approaching (2) Struggling (1) Thesis Thesis is clear and complex; includes supporting reasons that connect directly to the prompt Thesis is clear and focused with a relevant idea; includes supporting reasons, however reasons are vague Thesis addresses the prompt with an idea; however, idea is not specific or is too general Thesis does not include supporting reasons Thesis is unclear/does not address ideas in prompt Claims Claims respond to the thesis in a clear way with a specific idea from thesis Claims respond to the thesis in a clear way Claims respond to thesis Claims connect to the thesis in an unclear way OR do not connect to thesis at all Selection of Evidence Selects a variety of detailed, relevant evidence; evidence clearly and accurately supports claims Selects a variety of relevant evidence that is sufficient to support claim; evidence clearly supports claims Selects evidence that generally supports claims; evidence is weakly related to claim Evidence for claims is not a direct quote OR is missing OR evidence is not related to claim Explanation of Evidence Explanation is clear analysis that accurately explains how the selected evidence supports claims or statements Explanation is relevant analysis that explains how the selected evidence supports claim; however analysis at times may be vague, illogical, or overly general Explanation partially explains how selected evidence supports claims or statements; may still contain some repeating, rewording, and/or summarizing of evidence Explanation is limited, consisting mostly of repeating, rewording, and/or summarizing the evidence Organization Paragraphs are connected and logically build upon one another to deepen understanding of ideas. Transitions are varied, and appropriately and effectively used. Paragraphs are connected and logically build upon one another. Transitions are somewhat varied and appropriately used. Paragraphs partially build on one another. Transition words/phrases are used, but are often formulaic and/or used incorrectly. Paragraphs do not clearly build on one another. No transition words/phrases used, or used incorrectly.