Essays with scores of 8 or 9 (A/B+)

ü       Reveal specificity

ü       Are well organized

ü       Are well written (including grammar, syntax, etc.

ü       Reveal clear analysis of content OR clear analysis of diction, imagery, POV, tone, etc.

ü       Contain specific references to passages of a piece

ü       Demonstrate an understanding of the text

ü       Reveal “consistent control” of the above list of superior composition

ü       Reveal writers who read with perception

ü       Reveal writers who express their ideas with clarity and skill/sophistication

ü      Include only necessary plot summary

Essays with scores of 3 or 4 (D)

ü       May reflect incomplete understanding of the passage

ü       May fail to respond to all parts of the question

ü       May paraphrase rather than analyze

ü       Reveal unconvincing or missing treatment of diction, imagery, tone, POV, etc.

ü       Demonstrate weak control of elements such as diction, organization, syntax, grammar, etc.

ü       Display recurrent stylistic flaws OR misreading OR lack of persuasive evidence form the text

Essays with scores of 6 or 7 (B/C+)

ü       Reveal analysis but less incisive, developed, or supported as an 8 or 9

ü       Deal accurately with use of such elements as tone, diction, imagery, POV, etc. but are less effective or thorough than those with scores of 8 or 9

ü       Reveal awareness of and attempts to follow the above list of superior composition

ü       Demonstrates writer’s ability to express ideas clearly but with less maturity and control than the better papers

ü       Generally, 7’s present a “more developed analysis and more consistent command of the elements of effective composition” than essays scored at a 6

Essays with a score of 1 or 2 (F)

ü       Reveal compounded weakness of papers in the 3-4 range

ü       Reveal writers who may have misread the passage OR may fail to respond to the question

ü       Are often unacceptably brief

ü       Possess distracting errors in grammar or mechanics

ü       Reflect some attempt to answer the question, but with little clarity, organization, coherence, or supporting evidence

Essays with a score of 5 (C/D)

ü       Are superficial

ü       Miss complexity (ies)

ü       Reveal a vague handling of diction, imagery, tone, POV, etc. or discussion of these may be generalized or mechanical

ü       Lack of organization and development

ü       Demonstrate immature writing

ü       Demonstrate simplistic thinking

Essays with a score of 0

ü       Reveal a response with no more than a reference to the story or passage