Persuasive Essay Rubric
Common Core / 10 / 8 / 4 / 2Goal/Thesis / W.5.1
W.5.2 / Strongly and clearly states a personal opinion. Clearly identifies the issue. / Clearly states a personal opinion. Some references to the issue. / Personal opinion is not clearly stated. Little or no references to the issue. / Personal opinion is not easily understood. Has no reference to the issue.
Common Core / 30 / 26 / 24 / 22
Reasons and Support / W.5.1
W.5.2
W.5.7
W.5.9 / 3 or more excellent points with good support. Thought and research are evident. / 3 or more points are made with support, but the arguments are somewhat weak,doesn’t completely persuade. / 2 points made; shows some preparation, but weak arguments. / Preparation is weak; arguments are weak or missing; and less than three points are made.
Common Core / 10 / 7 / 4 / 1
Conclusion / W.5.1
W.5.2 / Summarizes personal opinion in a strong concluding statement. / Summarizes personal opinion in a concluding statement. / Concluding statement is a weak summary of personal opinion. / Concluding statement makes no reference to personal opinion.
Common Core / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Organization/Style / W.5.2
W.5.4
L.5.3 / Sentences and paragraphs are complete, well written, and varied. Word choices are clear, descriptive, and accurate. / Sentence and paragraph structure is generally correct. Adequate word choices which are clear and descriptive. / Sentence and paragraph structure is inconsistent. Some word choices are clear and descriptive. / Little or no evidence of sentence or paragraph structure. Language unclear. Lacks description.
Purpose and Audience / W.5.2
W.5.4
W.5.10 / Maintains consistent persuasive tone, completely taking audience into account. / Demonstrates a mostly persuasive tone, taking audience into account. / Lacks consistent persuasive tone audience somewhat considered. / Lacks persuasive tone. Audience not taken into account.
Mechanics and Grammar / L.5.2 / Contains no, punctuation, spelling, or grammatical errors. Typed / Contains few errors in punctuation, spelling, or grammar that do not interfere with meaning. Typed / Contains several punctuation, spelling, and/or grammatical errors that interfere with meaning. Typed / Contains many punctuation, spelling, and/or grammatical errors that make the piece illegible.
Handwritten
Internal Citations
10 / 8 / 6 / 4 / 2Complete documentation or sources. Correct format. Parenthetically cited.
3 or more valid sources / Incomplete documentation of sources.
Correct format
Parenthetically cited
3 sources / Incomplete documentation of sources. Incorrect format. Parenthetically cited.
2 sources / Incomplete documentation of sources. Incorrect format. Not parenthetically cited.
2 sources / Incomplete documentation of sources. Incorrect format. Not parenthetically cited.
1 source
Rubric ______/5
Common Core - W.5.6 Total Score _____ /77