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iRubric: Expository Writing Rubric

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Expository Writing Rubric 
Guidelines for scoring informative/expository writing.
Rubric Code: L8A4AC
Ready to use
Public Rubric
Subject: English  
Type: Writing  
Grade Levels: 9-12

Powered by iRubric Writing Article
  Excellent

5 pts

Good

4 pts

Fair

3 pts

Poor

2 pts

Needs Improvement

1 pts

Thesis Statement

Excellent

Thesis is present and clear and supports the essay's purpose.
Good

Thesis is present and clearly written with some support of essay's purpose.
Fair

Thesis is present but doesn't include reasons for the essay's purpose.
Poor

Thesis is not clear.
Needs Improvement

No thesis is present.
Introduction

Excellent

The introduction does an excellent job of hooking the reader into the essay. It includes the thesis and previews main points.
Good

The introduction simply states topic, has thesis and previews main points, but does not hook reader well.
Fair

Introduction is functional. May have thesis, but does not preview main points.
Poor

Introduction very weak, does not have thesis or preview of main points. Only previews topic.
Needs Improvement

No introduction is present.
Supporting details/textual support

Excellent

Each body paragraph contains three or more supporting details.
Good

Each body paragraph contains two or three supporting details.
Fair

Each body paragraph contains one or two supporting detail.
Poor

Each body paragraph contains only one suporting detail.
Needs Improvement

No supporting details are present in body paragraphs.
Logical order

Excellent

The essay is developed in a logical order appropriate to the writer's purpose and readers' needs.
Good

Most of the essay is presented in a logical order, and readers should have little trouble following the supporting details.
Fair

Some of the essay is presented in a logical order, and readers should have little trouble following the supporting details.
Poor

The writer attempts to develop the essay in a logical order, but some of the essay may be presented in an order readers may find confusing.
Needs Improvement

The supporting details within the essay as a whole are not developed in a logical order.
Transitions (Linking words)

Excellent

Transitions are present and effectively direct readers from one example to the next. They exhibit sophistication on the part of the writer.
Good

Transitions are present and direct readers from one example to the next but seem functional. They may be basic and/or confusing.
Fair

Transitions are present but do not effectively direct readers from one example to the next. They may be basic and/or confusing.
Poor

Minimal transitional words, phrases and sentences are present.
Needs Improvement

Transitions are not present or do not effectively direct readers from one example to the next.
Audience and Tone

Excellent

Polished tone. Clearly tailored to an appropriate academic audience.
Good

Appropriate for academic writing. Generally formal.
Fair

Generally formal with a few breaks in formality such as use of contractions or slang.
Poor

Minimally formal.
Needs Improvement

Casual and informal tone. Inappropriate use of slang. Written to a non academic audience.
Style

Excellent

Writing is smooth, skillful, and coherent. Sentences are strong and expressive with varied structure. Consistent and appropriate tone and word choice is used throughout the paragraph.
Good

Writing is clear and sentences have varied structure. There is consistent tone and word choice is appropriate.
Fair

Writing is clear, but sentences may lack variety. The tone is inconsistent and word choice, while adequate, could be better.
Poor

Writing is only partially clear, and sentences may lack variety. The tone is inconsistent and word choice is plain or inadequate.
Needs Improvement

Writing is confusing and hard to follow. Contains many fragments and/or run-on sentences. The tone and purpose is incosistent and difficult to determine.
Grammar and Mechanics

Excellent

The essay contains no errors in usage, spelling, and mechanics.
Good

The essay contains few (1-3) errors in usage, spelling and mechanics.
Fair

The essay contains several (4-6) errors in usage, spelling and mechanics.
Poor

The essay contains many (7 or more)errors in usage, spelling and mechanics.
Needs Improvement

The essay contains too many errors in usage, spelling and mechanics to be considered honors-level work.
Conclusion

Excellent

The conclusion does an excellent job of summing up or restating the topic and tying the details together, and leaves the reader thinking.
Good

The conclusion sums up the topic by restating it, but it does not tie the details together or leave the reader thinking.
Fair

The conclusion sums up the topic by restating it, but it does not tie the details together.
Poor

There is an attempt at a conclusion, but it doesn't restate the topic or tie the details together.
Needs Improvement

There is no conclusion. The essay just ends without summing up or restating the topic. It doesn't tie the details together.



Keywords:
  • English 9-12

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