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Definition Essay 
Definition Essay
Students will combine all skills being studied in English II to write a definition essay. This essay is standard 5-paragraph form and will have several due dates. A definition essay is writing that explains what a term means. Some terms have definite, concrete meanings, such as glass, book, or tree. Terms such as honesty, honor, or love are abstract and depend more on a person's point of view.
Rubric Code: F3A25A
By lizwashburn
Ready to use
Public Rubric
Subject: English  
Type: Writing  
Grade Levels: 9-12

Powered by iRubric Definition Essay
  Effective

Reader understands and easily follows the writer’s expression of ideas.

5 pts

Adequate

Reader understands
writer’s ideas.

4 pts

Marginal

Reader occasionally has
difficulty understanding
or following the writer’s ideas.

3 pts

Below Marginal

Reader has difficulty identifying or following the writer’s ideas.

2 pts

Inadequate

1 pts

Response to Prompt
20 %

20pts
Effective

Presents a clearly focused main idea that addresses prompt.
Adequate

Uses the writing prompt to establish a main idea.
Marginal

Addresses the prompt, though the focus may shift.
Below Marginal

Attempts to address prompt but with little or no success in
establishing a focus.
Inadequate

Does not attempt to address prompt
Organization
15 %

15pts
Effective

Establishes a clear and logical organization.
Adequate

Uses an identifiable
organizational plan.
Marginal

Shows some evidence of an organizational plan.
Below Marginal

Fails to organize ideas.
Inadequate

Contains no organization or ideas.
Development & Details
20 %

20pts
Effective

Achieves coherent
development with specific and relevant details and examples.
Adequate

Has focused but occasionally uneven development; incorporates some specific detail.
Marginal

Has some development but lacks specific details; may be limited to a listing, repetitions,
or generalizations.
Below Marginal

Demonstrates little development; usually lacks details or examples or presents irrelevant information.
Inadequate

Demonstrates no development; usually lacks details or examples or presents irrelevant information
Conventions of English
15 %

15pts
Effective

Consistently controls
structure and the conventions of Edited American English (EAE) (including spelling and grammar).
Adequate

Generally controls sentence structure and the conventions
of EAE.
Marginal

May demonstrate inconsistent control of sentence structure
and the conventions of EAE.
Below Marginal

May exhibit minimal control of sentence structure
and the conventions of EAE.
Inadequate

May exhibit no control of sentence structure
and the conventions of EAE.
Word Choice
10 %

10pts
Effective

Exhibits varied and precise word choice.
Adequate

Exhibits appropriate word choice.
Marginal

Exhibits a narrow range of word choice, often including
inappropriate selections.
Below Marginal

Exhibits little variety of word usage, words are redundant.
Inadequate

Exhibits weak and/or
inappropriate words.
Format
10 %

10pts
Effective

Paper follows all format quidelines. 1 inch margins, 12 point times new Roman font. 5 paragraphs are indented.
Adequate

x
Marginal

X
Below Marginal

X
Inadequate

Paper does not follow all format quielines
Quotations
10 %

10pts
Effective

Contains at least quotations.
Adequate

X
Marginal

X
Below Marginal

X
Inadequate

Does not contain at least two viable sources



Keywords:
  • writing, 5-paragraph, essay, definition

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