Wayne State University

Composition Program

ENG 1020 Grading Rubric

The "A" Paper:

1. The "A" paper has an excellent sense of the rhetorical situation. Its aim is clear and consistent throughout the paper. It attends to the needs of its audience and the topic itself is effectively narrowed and clearly defined.

2. The content is appropriately developed for the assignment and rhetorical situation. The supporting details or evidence are convincingly presented. The reasoning is valid and shows an awareness of the complexities of the subject. If secondary sources are used, they are appropriately selected and cited.

3. The organization demonstrates a clear and effective strategy. The introduction establishes the writer's credibility and the conclusion effectively completes the essay: paragraphs are coherent, developed, and show effective structural principles.

4. The expression is very clear, accessible, concrete. It displays ease with idiom and a broad range of diction. It shows facility with a great variety of sentence options and the punctuation and subordinate structures that these require. It has few errors, none of which seriously undermines the effectiveness of the paper for educated readers.

The "B" Paper:

1. The "B" paper has a good sense of the rhetorical situation. It shows awareness of purpose and focuses on a clearly defined topic.

2. The content is well developed and the reasoning usually valid and convincing. Evidence and supporting details are adequate.

3. The organization is clear and easy to follow: the introduction and conclusion are effective, and transitions within and between paragraphs are finessed reasonably well.

4. The paper has few errors, especially serious sentence errors. Sentences show some variety in length, structure, and complexity. Punctuation, grammar, and spelling conform to the conventions of edited Standard American English.

The "C" Paper:

1. The "C" paper has an adequate sense of the rhetorical situation. Its purpose is clear and it is focused on an appropriate central idea. The topic may be unoriginal, but the assignment has been followed, if not fulfilled.

2. The content is adequately developed. The major points are supported, and paragraphs are appropriately divided, with enough specific details to make the ideas clear. The reasoning is valid.

3. The organization is clear and fairly easy to follow. The introduction and conclusion are adequate; transitions are mechanical but appropriate.

4. The expression is generally correct, although it shows little competence with sentence variety (in length and structure) and emphasis. The paper is generally free of major sentence and grammar errors and indicates mastery of most conventions of edited Standard American English.

The "D" Paper:

1.      The "D" paper has a limited sense of the rhetorical situation. Its purpose may not be

clear, its topic may not be interesting to or appropriate for its audience.

2. The content is inadequately developed. The evidence is insufficient, and supporting details or examples are absent or irrelevant.

3. Organization is deficient. Introductions or conclusions are not clearly marked or functional. Paragraphs are not coherently developed or linked to each other. The arrangement of material within paragraphs may be confusing.

4. Expression demonstrates an awareness of a very limited range of stylistic options. It is marred by numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation that detract from a reader’s comprehension of the text. 

The "F" Paper:

1. There is no sense of the rhetorical situation or of the objectives of the assignment as described in the syllabus. 

2. The content is insufficiently developed and does not go beyond the obvious. The reasoning is deeply flawed.

3. The organization is very difficult to follow. Sentences may not be appropriately grouped into paragraphs, or paragraphs may not be arranged logically. Transitions are not present or are inappropriate.

4. The number and seriousness of errors—in grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.—significantly obstruct comprehension.