Holistic Scoring Rubric:
6
Superior command of written language. The essay has an opening
and closing. It has a single, distinct focus; it is unified, coherent,
and well-developed. There is a logical progression of ideas. It is fluent
and cohesive, and the compositional risks are handled successfully.
The details are effective, vivid, explicit, and/or pertinent. There
are very few, if any, language usage errors, sentence errors, or mechanical
errors. Programmatically a score of six, six on the placement exam could
exempt a student from English Composition I (ENG-101).
Sample
essays
5
Strong command of written language. The essay has an opening
and closing. It has a single focus, a sense of unity and coherence,
and key ideas are developed. There is a logical progression of ideas.
It is moderately fluent, and it attempts compositional risks. The details
are appropriate and varied. There are few errors in language usage,
sentence construction, and mechanics.
Sample
essays
4
Good command of written language. The essay generally has an
opening and closing. It has a single focus. In the essay, ideas are
loosely connected and transitions are evident. There is an uneven development
of the supporting details, but in general it is adequate. There are
some language usage errors and sentence construction errors that do
not interfere with meaning. There is no consistent pattern of mechanical
errors; the mechanical errors do not interfere with meaning. Programmatically
a score of four, four on the placement exam will place a student into
English Composition I (ENG-101).
Sample
essays
3
Adequate command of written language. The essay may lack an opening
and/or closing but usually has a single focus. In the essay, there are
some lapses or flaws in the organization, but there is an attempt at
organization. It may lack some transitions between ideas. Details are
repetitious and/or unelaborated. Language usage shows errors and/or
a pattern of errors. Sentence construction has errors and shows little
variety in syntax. Patterns of mechanical errors are evident. Programmatically
a score of three, three on the placement exam will place a student into
Writing Skills III (ENG-023).
Sample
essays
2
Partial command of written language. The essay may lack an opening
and/or closing. It attempts to focus but may drift or shift focus. There
are attempts at organization, and there are few, if any, transitions
between ideas. Details lack elaboration. There are numerous language
usage errors. Sentence construction is excessively monotonous (same
structure), and there are numerous errors. There are numerous mechanical
errors. Programmatically a score of two, two on the placement exam will
place a student into Writing Skills II (ENG-022).
Sample
essays
1
Inadequate command of written language. The essay may lack an
opening and/or closing. It shows a minimal response to the topic and
an uncertain focus. No planning is evident in the essay, and it is disorganized.
Details are random, inappropriate, and/or barely apparent. There is
no apparent control of language usage, and there are severe and numerous
errors. Sentence construction shows an assortment of incomplete and/or
incorrect sentences. Mechanical errors are so severe that they detract
from meaning. Programmatically a score of one, one on the placement
exam will place a student into Writing Skills I (ENG-021).
Sample
essays
Content/organization: communicates
intended message to intended audience, relates to topic, opening and
closing, focused, logical progression of ideas, transitions, appropriate
details and information.
Language usage: tense formation, subject-verb
agreement, pronoun usage/agreement, word choice/meaning, proper modifiers.
Sentence construction: variety of
formations and correctness of construction.
Mechanics: spelling, capitalization,
and punctuation.
