iRubric: Cause-Effect Essay rubric

The writer followed all MLA Format requirements and the length of the essay is at least 1000 words (4 pages) typed.

The writer followed most of the MLA Format requirements and the essay is at least 1000 words (4 pages) typed.

The writer followed some of the MLA Format requirements and the essay is at least 1000 words (4 pages) typed.

The writer did not meet most of the MLA Format requirements and the essay is less than 1000 words (4 pages) typed.

The introduction contains a strong attention-grabbing opening statements, provides sufficient background information, and includes a thesis statement.

The introduction may not contain enough attention-grabbing opening statements, and/or the background information is not sufficiently presented.

There is a thesis statement present.

The introduction contains very few if any attention-grabbing opening statements, and/or the background information is not sufficiently presented.

There is no clear thesis statement included in the introduction.

An introduction is not clearly or sufficently presented in the essay.

Details are placed in a logical order and the way they are presented effectively keeps the interest of the reader.

The essay includes five distinct paragraphs: Introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion.

A variety of thoughtful transitions are used. They clearly show how the ideas are connected.

Some details may not be in a logical order or expected order, and this distracts the reader.

The essay includes five paragraphs: Introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion; however, they may not be clearly presented.

Most transitions work well; but connections between other ideas are unclear.

Many details are not in a logical order or expected order. There is little sense that the writing is organized and/or the essay does not include five paragraphs.

Some transitions work well; but connections between other ideas are unclear or nonexistant.

Most of the details are not in a logical or expected order. The writing is clearly not well organized and/or thought out.

The essay does not include five paragraphs: Introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion.

The transitions between ideas are unclear or nonexistant.

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

Includes 3 cause/effect relationships, some lack clarification of the cause-effection relationship for the audience.

Includes 3 cause/effect relationships, many lack clarification of the cause-effection relationship for the audience.

Includes less than 3 cause/effect relationships, and they may lack clarification of the cause-effect relationship for the audience.

Source information is quoted, summarized, or paraphrased, and the information is cited using proper parenthetical (in-text)citation.

Source information is quoted, summarized, or paraphrased, and most of the information is cited using proper parenthetical (in-text citation.

Source information is quoted, summarized, or paraphrased; however, only some of the information is cited using parenthetical (in-text)citation.

Source information is quoted, summarized, or paraphrased; however, little of the information is cited using parenthetical (in-text) citation.

The conclusion is effective. It contains a strong restated thesis, summary, and closing sentence that leaves the reader with something to think about.

The conclusion is somewhat effective.
It may lack a restated thesis that was not reworded, a complete summary, or a closing sentence that leaves the reader with something to think about.

The conclusion does not have enough elements to effectively conclude the essay; it does not summarize the main points, restate the thesis without repeating the exact sentence, or leave the reader with something to think about.

There was no clear conclusion. It lacked too many of the components necessary in a conclusion paragraph.