iRubric: Compare-Contrast Analysis of Two Essays rubric

Titles of essays & authors' names are given. Thesis is clear & well-written. Type of essay is clear from intro. Intro creates interest. Title shows thought and creativity.

Titles of essays & authors' names are given. Thesis is present and but message may be ambiguous. Type of essay is clear from intro. Clear intro & title shows thought.

Titles of essays and/or authors' names are given. Thesis is present but may be too broad for the topic. Intro is weak. Title shows little thought.

Titles of essays and/or authors' names may be missing. Thesis may be missing or is perfunctory. Intro is weak or missing. Title may be missing or shows little thought.

Organization clearly follows one of the two basic patterns of C&C essays. Similar items of comparison between essays are parallel. Paragraphs are well organized and easy to understand. Each contains a sophisticated topic sentence and transitions. All sentences within the paragraph concisely and effectively work to support both the paragraph's and thesis's claims.

Organization follows one of the two basic patterns of C&C essays. Similar items of comparison are mostly parallel. Most ideas are thought out and organized for the reader. Each paragraph contains a topic sentence and transition, although some may seem formulaic. All sentences within the paragraph work to support both the paragraph's and thesis's claims.

An attempt was made to follow one of the two basic patterns of C&C essays. Items of comparison between essays may not be parallel. Some ideas are thought out and organized for the reader, but more development may be needed. There is an effort to create topic sentences and transitions, although this might not always be consistent. There is some connection between thesis and paragraphs.

No apparent effort was made to follow the patterns of a C&C essay. Ideas may be somewhat jumbled and hard to follow. Paragraphs may not begin with topic sentences nor end with transitions. There is not a clear connections between paragraphs and thesis.

Word use is accurate and vocabulary is varied and sophisticated. Third person is used throughout essay. Tone is appropriate for material and reflects respect for inteligence of reader.

Word use is mostly accurate and vocabulary is varied. Few to no words are misused. Third person is moslty used throughout essay. Tone is mostly appropriate for material and reflects respect for reader.

Word use is mostly accurate, but some mis-used words and/or idiomatic errors. Vocabulary lacks variation. Third person is moslty used throughout essay. Tone may be appropriate for material and reader.

May contain many misused or inaccurate words that impede readability. Little variation in vocabulary. Other than third person voice may be widespread. Tone is inconsistent or inappropriate.