Argument Essay Rubric
5	4	3	2	1
Introductory Paragraph	Attention-demanding hook Clear BG info w/ both sides introduced Strong thesis/claim statement	Hook, background info, and thesis/claim are present Majority of elements are strong and minimal revision is needed	Hook, background info, and thesis/claim are present Would benefit from revision	Missing hook, background info, or thesis/claim Other elements are in need of revision	Missing hook, background info, and/ or thesis/claim In need of serious revisions
Body Paragraph Organization Support: Topic, Reasons, Evidence, & Explanation	Clear Topic Sentence (includes main idea of paragraph AND connects to thesis) Set-Up (Lead in to Example) Specific Examples/One piece of Evidence for each paragraph Explanations show how evidence connects to reason and proves claim	Topic Sentence Present Set-Up (Lead in to Example) At least one pieces of Specific examples/evidence per reason Explanations present	Attempt at Topic Sent. List of facts/no set-up Specific Examples/ evidence are mostly present but either unclear or insufficient Explanations attempted	No clear topic sentence List of facts/no set-up Reasons and specific examples/evidence possibly attempted but unclear Explanations may not be present	Body paragraphs attempted Topic Sentence, Reasons, evidence, and explanations are needed
Ideas and Argument Appeals, Counterargument & Rebuttal	Strong, realistic counterargument Rebuttal is logical and proves counterargument invalid Logical reasons (at least 2 Appeals Used (at least 2)	Counterargument anticipated Rebuttal fully explained At least two clear reasons Appeals used (at least two)	Counterargument and rebuttal are both attempted Reasons are mostly present but either unclear or insufficient 1 Appeal	One element may be missing or difficult to distinguish Appeal attempted but unclear	Counterargument and rebuttal are needed No Appeals Used
Conclusion	Strong restatement of thesis/claim Clear Summary Sentences for EACH Body Paragraph Strong closing statement that extends the argument and leaves readers thinking	Restates thesis/claim statement Summary of BP attempt (missing 1 connection to thesis) Clear closing statement	Restated thesis/claim is attempted Summary attempt made (missing 2 or more body paragraph connections Closing statement is attempted	Either restated thesis/claim or closing statement may be unclear or missing Summary of Body Paragraphs weak	Restated thesis/claim and closing statement are not apparent No Summary of Body Paragraphs
Citations	Strong attempt to make in-text citations follow MLA format Strong attempt to make Work Cited page follow MLA format	Fair attempt at in text citations and Work Cited page	Attempted in text citations and Work Cited page	In text citations or work cited page missing	Sources are not referenced
Writing Conventions	Nearly flawless grammar, punctuation, spelling	Few errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling	A few patterns in grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors	Frequent grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors impede meaning	Writing is challenging to understand
Sentence Structure	effective, varied sentence structure and length	appropriate, varied sentence structure and length	adequate, though simple, sentence structure and length	ineffective, sentence structure and length	Incomplete (may be copied text from another source)
MLA	Title Interesting – Font 12, Not Bold, Centered Size 12 Font Heading (Right) Works Cited Page if required	May be missing one formal MLA formatting element	May be missing two formal MLA formatting elements	May be missing three formal MLA formatting elements	May be missing four or more formal MLA formatting elements
Name: ___________________________________ Raw Score: _______/40 Overall Grade: __________