iRubric: Cause and Effect Essay rubric

Includes 3 or more cause/effect relationships which are logical and clarify the cause-effect relationship for the audience.

Includes evidence (facts, examples, statistics) that support the topic discussed

Includes 3 or more cause/effect relationships which lack clarification of the cause-effect relationship for the audience.

Includes supporting, relevant details and information, but one issue/relationship is unsupported

Includes 2 cause/effect relationships which lack clarification of the cause-effect relationship for the audience.

Includes supporting details and information that is relevant, but several issues/relationships are unsupported.

There is lack of supporting cause and effect relationships and/or details are not strong enough to understand cause and effect relationship.

The writer seems to be writing from knowledge or experience. The author shows ownership of the ideas presented.

The writer effectively uses transition words when changing to new topics to create a smooth shift.

The writer seems to be writing from some experience but lacks ownership of ideas presented.

The writer uses transition words without variety or consistency.

The writer relates some knowledge but adds little to the topic discussed.

The writer uses few transition words, which do not create a smooth shift from one idea to the next.

There is little evidence the writer has knowledge of the topic being written about.

There are few to no transitions within writing which makes it difficult for the reader to understand.

The writer restates thesis and the main points discussed throughout the body of the essay, while tying up all loose ends.

The writer recognizably closes, but does not restate thesis and leaves the audience without a sense of closure.

The writer recognizably closes, but does not tie up any loose ends.

There is no restatement of thesis, and the reader is looking for a better wrap up.