Present Claims That Are Vague Or Ambiguous

Essay

Rubric

Writing:

F, D and C papers

Present claims that are vague or ambiguous

Make grammatical errors, for example run on sentences or missed commas or incorrect verb usage

Make spelling errors

B and A papers:

Present one thought to each sentence.

Present one point to each paragraph.

Write clearly and concisely

Few if any grammatical errors or spelling errors

Presenting the Facts:

F, D and C papers:

The facts or viewpoints or philosophy being presented is misconstrued, misrepresented or just wrong

B papers:

The facts or viewpoints or philosophy being presented are represented correctly although the explanation is too quick

A papers:

The facts or viewpoints or philosophy being presented are represented correctly and thoroughly

Presenting the Conclusion:

F, D and C papers:

The conclusion of the argument isn’t presented early on in the paper

The conclusion of the argument isn’t made clear.

B and A papers:

The conclusion of the argument is presented early, in the first couple paragraphs of the paper. The conclusion is presented very clearly.

Presenting the Argument:

F and D papers:

Little to no reasons given

C papers:

Reasons are presented in favor of the conclusion but they are weak and undeveloped.

Here reasons presented will be question begging or straw men or red herrings

B papers:

Here stronger reasons are presented alongside weaker reasons

The reasons aren’t developed enough

Although one or more reasons are well developed and very pressing this will not be the case for all reasons presented

A papers:

No more than a few reasons are presented in favor of the conclusion.

Each reason is fully explained

Only the strongest reasons are presented

Reasons are never question begging or straw men or red herrings

Presenting Objections:

F and D papers:

No objections are considered

C papers:

Few if any objections are considered

If objections are considered they are straw men of some kind, not real and thorough representations of an objection but instead some misrepresented or misconstrued objection

If objections are considered at all they are weak and poorly presented

B papers:

Objections are considered

Some of the objections considered aren’t well developed as they are lacking in explanation, analysis and motivation

Some of the objections considered aren’t clearly explained

Although some objections may be pressing others are weak and underdeveloped and not clearly explained

A papers:

The strongest objections are considered

The objections considered are well developed and clearly explained

No straw men or red herrings are presented

Replying to the objections:

F and D papers:

Do not respond to objections

C papers:

Little to no replies are given

If a reply is given it is fallacious, for example a red herring, straw man or it is question begging

B papers:

Replies are given but they are too quick. They are underdeveloped or not fully explained.