Quality of No Poor/Unsatisfactory Satisfactory Good Excellent Response Response Content Zero 20 points out of 60: 30 points out of 40 points out of 60 points: The (worth a points: The essay illustrates 60: The essay 60: The essay essay illustrates maximum Student poor understanding illustrates a illustrates solid exemplary of 60% of failed to of the relevant rudimentary understanding understanding of the total respond material by failing to understanding of the relevant the relevant points) to the address or of the relevant material by material by essay incorrectly material by correctly thoroughly and question. addressing the mentioning but addressing correctly relevant content; not full most of the addressing the failing to identify or explaining the relevant relevant content; inaccurately relevant content; identifying and explaining/defining content; identifying and explaining all of key concepts/ideas; identifying explaining most the key ignoring or some of the key of the key concepts/ideas; incorrectly concepts/ideas concepts/ideas; using correct explaining key though failing to using correct terminology points/claims and fully or terminology; explaining the the reasoning behind accurately explaining the reasoning behind them; and/or explain many of reasoning key points/claims incorrectly or them; using behind most of and inappropriately terminology, the key substantiating, as using terminology; though points/claims; necessary/useful, and elements of the sometimes and/or where points with response are inaccurately or necessary or several accurate lacking. inappropriately; useful, and illuminating and/or substantiating examples. No incorporating some points aspects of the some key with accurate required answer claims/points examples. The are missing. but failing to answer is explain the complete. reasoning behind them or doing so inaccurately. Elements of the required response may also be lacking.
Quality of Response No Response Poor/Unsatisfactory Satisfactory Good Excellent Content (worth a maximum of 60% of the total points) Zero points: Student failed to respond to the essay question. 20 points out of 60: The essay illustrates poor understanding of the relevant material by failing to address or incorrectly addressing the relevant content; failing to identify or inaccurately explaining/defining key concepts/ideas; ignoring or incorrectly explaining key points/claims and the reasoning behind them; and/or incorrectly or inappropriately using terminology; and elements of the response are lacking. 30 points out of 60: The essay illustrates a rudimentary understanding of the relevant material by mentioning but not full explaining the relevant content; identifying some of the key concepts/ideas though failing to fully or accurately explain many of them; using terminology, though sometimes inaccurately or inappropriately; and/or incorporating some key claims/points but failing to explain the reasoning behind them or doing so inaccurately. Elements of the required response may also be lacking. 40 points out of 60: The essay illustrates solid understanding of the relevant material by correctly addressing most of the relevant content; identifying and explaining most of the key concepts/ideas; using correct terminology; explaining the reasoning behind most of the key points/claims; and/or where necessary or useful, substantiating some points with accurate examples. The answer is complete. 60 points: The essay illustrates exemplary understanding of the relevant material by thoroughly and correctly addressing the relevant content; identifying and explaining all of the key concepts/ideas; using correct terminology explaining the reasoning behind key points/claims and substantiating, as necessary/useful, points with several accurate and illuminating examples. No aspects of the required answer are missing.