Personal Essay NAME:__________________________________________________
CRITERIA BELOW LEVEL LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4
0 - 49% 50 - 59% 60 - 69% 70 - 79% 80 - 100%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MECHANICS (APP) -major & minor usage errors -some usage errors -only minor usage errors -few, if any, minor usage errors
* use of spelling, grammar, -limited understanding -inconsistent understanding of -proficient understanding of -advanced understanding of
punctuation, & usage conventions of spelling, grammar, spelling, grammar, punctuation, spelling, grammar, punctuation, spelling, grammar, punctuation,
* MLA if required (font, spacing, punctuation, sentence structure sentence structure sentence structure sentence structure
margins) -frequent typographical errors, -some typographical errors, not -few, if any, typographical -free of typographical errors
*free of typographical errors distracting distracting errors
0123456789 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
STYLE (COMM) -minimally appropriate diction, -somewhat appropriate diction, fairly appropriate diction, -consistently appropriate
* diction, voice, tone of writing is voice, tone voice, tone voice, tone diction, voice, tone
strong, formal, personal -minimally clear and -expression is somewhat clear -fairly clear and straightforward -clear and straightforward
* expression is clear and straightforward expression and straightforward expression expression
straightforward -many extended, awkward -some awkward passages -occasional awkward phrasing -fluid and concise phrasing
* fluid, concise writing passages
0123456789 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
STRUCTURE (K/U)
* formal structure (intro, body, -uses few formal structural -uses some formal structural -uses many formal structural -uses all formal structural
conclusion; topic & concluding features features features features effectively
sentences) -thesis/roadmap missing or -thesis/roadmap vague or -thesis/roadmap fairly focussed -thesis/roadmap clear and
* thesis is sound; roadmap clear incorrectly stated unfocussed and arguable focussed
* examples are logical and sound -examples are weak in their -examples are adequate in their -examples are effectively -examples are very logical
* consistent order of arguments logic logic logical -consistent order of arguments
* paragraphs/piece are focussed - very inconsistent order of -inconsistent order of -consistent order of arguments -advanced paragraph
and unified arguments arguments -effective paragraph construction
* transitions are logical and -incomplete paragraphs -adequate paragraph construction -strong transitions
appropriate -weak transitions construction -effective transitions
-adequate transitions
0123456789 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
CONTENT (T/I) -supports, references & -supports, references & -supports, references & -supports, references &
* use of specific personal evidence commentary are infrequently commentary are sometimes commentary are usually commentary are consistently
to support thesis relevant to thesis relevant to thesis relevant to thesis relevant to thesis
* line/s of argument logical -line of argument is vague -line of argument is somewhat -line of argument is fairly - line of argument convincing
* insight and critical thinking clear -handling of ideas is often convincing convincing -handling of ideas is
* demonstration of understanding immature and/or confused -handling of ideas is -handling of ideas is often insightfully complex and
of topic via clear explanation -minimal clarification of perfunctory, simplistic insightful and critical critical
information -basic clarification of -effective clarification of -full clarification of information
information information
TOTAL /70
