iRubric: Compare and Contrast Essay rubric

Student attempts to engage the audience are awkward or vague. Prompt is somewhat misunderstood but partially addressed. The central claim is inappropriate, weak, or unclear. No background information.

Student's introduction contains a statement but it either does not give accurate and complete information about the topic or it lacks detail and creativity.

The introduction contains a thesis statement, which creates interest, and is fairly well-developed, but it may not be very engaging.

The student has written a very well-developed introduction with a clear thesis statement that introduces the topic and is engaging to readers.

Student does not attempt to compare and contrast a set of subjects.
OR
Student presents one or two weak points of comparison/ contrast.

Student presents two points of comparision / contrast.

Student analyzes two clear points of comparison / contrast.
OR
Student analyzes three points of comparison / contrast.

Student presents three clear points of comparison/ contrast, and subjects each topic to a rigorous stylistic analysis.

The student did not attempt to organize the writing for this essay.

The student attemtps to organize the essay. the orgainzation attempt may be missing introduction, body paragraph(s) or conclusion.

Student has the essay organized into easily recognizable elements: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, using transitions to separate each element.

Student uses exceptional organization: point by point OR block subjects
- points are discussed in the same order throughout
- clear intro, body, conclusion
- transitions between each point and paragraph.

Conclusion is not present. Essay just ends.

Conclusion is present but not effective. It does not provide closure for the essay.

Conclusion provides a sense of closure but does not provide insight into the subjects discussed.

The conclusion does not merely restate the key points of the thesis statement but provides insight into the subjects discussed. The conclusion is effective and gives readers a sense of closure.