STANDARD CRITICAL ESSAY RUBRIC

	Excellent 5	Proficient 4	Satisfactory 3	Limited 2	Poor 1
Thought & Understanding Effectiveness of student ideas in relation to assignment. Quality of literary interpretations & understanding	Ideas are insightful, demonstrating a comprehension of subtle distinctions in the literary texts and the topic. Literary interpretations are perceptive and illuminating	Ideas are thoughtful, demonstrating a well-considered comprehension of the literary texts and the topic. Literary interpretations are revealing and convincing.	Ideas are relevant & straightforward, demonstrating a generalized comprehension of the literary texts and the topic. Literary interpretations are general but plausible.	Ideas are superficial & oversimplified demonstrating a weak comprehension of the literary texts and the topic. Literary interpretations are incomplete and/or literal.	Ideas are largely absent or irrelevant and/or do not develop the topic. Little comprehension of the literary texts and/or topic is demonstrated.
Supporting Evidence Selection & quality of evidence Integrated, synthesized and developed to support student ideas	Support is explicit, precise and deliberately chosen to reinforce the student's ideas in an effective and judicious way. A strong connection to the student's ideas is maintained.	Support is relevant, accurate and occasionally deliberately chosen to reinforce the student's ideas in a logical & clear way. A clear connection to the student's ideas is maintained.	Support is adequate & general, but occasionally lacking in persuasiveness & consistency. A straightforward connection to the student's ideas is maintained.	Support is often inappropriate or is a restatement of what was read and/or may be repetitive, contradictory and/or lacking. The connection to the student's ideas is vague and/or unclear.	Support is irrelevant, over-generalized, and/or lacking. The support, if present, is largely unrelated to any idea that may be present.
Form & Structure Coherent, focused, shaped & concluded discussion Unifying effect is developed and maintained	An effective arrangement of ideas and details contributes to a fluent, controlled and shaped discussion that concludes skilfully. The unifying effect or controlling idea is successfully sustained and integrated & coherently presented.	A considered arrangement of ideas and details contributes to a competent controlled discussion that concludes appropriately. The unifying effect or controlling idea is sustained & coherently presented.	A straightforward arrangement of ideas and details provides direction for the discussion that concludes functionally. The unifying effect or controlling idea is presented and maintained generally, however, coherence may falter.	A discernible but ineffectual arrangement of ideas and details provides some direction for the discussion that does not conclude deliberately. A unifying effect or controlling idea is not maintained.	A haphazard arrangement of ideas and details provides little or no direction for the discussion, and a conclusion is absent or obscure. A unifying effect or controlling idea is absent.
Matters of Choice Diction, syntactic structures (parallelism, balance, inversion) & voice	Diction is precise & effective. Syntactic structures are effective & sometimes polished. Stylistic choices contribute to a confident composition with a convincing voice.	Diction is specific. Syntactic structures are generally effective. Stylistic choices contribute to a competent composition with a capable voice.	Diction is adequate but may be lacking in specificity. Syntactic structures are generally clear, but attempts at complex structures may be awkward. Stylistic choices contribute to a clear composition with a matter of fact voice.	Diction is imprecise and/or inappropriate. Syntax is frequently awkward and/or immature. The writing may be vague, redundant and/or unclear. Inadequate language choices contribute to a composition with an undiscerning or uncritical voice.	Diction is over-generalized and/or inaccurate. Syntax is confused and uncontrolled. The writing is unclear. Lack of language choices contributes to a confusing composition with an ineffective voice.
Matters of Correctness Sentence construction, usage, grammar, mechanics	This writing demonstrates confidence in control of correct sentence construction, usage, grammar and mechanics. The relative absence of error is impressive considering the complexity of the response & the circumstances.	This writing demonstrates competence in control of correct sentence construction, usage, grammar, & mechanics. Minor errors in complex language structures are understandable considering the circumstances.	This writing demonstrates control of the basics of correct sentence construction, usage, grammar and mechanics. There may be occasional lapses in control and minor errors. However, the communication remains clear.	This writing demonstrates faltering control of correct sentence construction, usage, grammar and mechanics. The range of errors blurs the clarity of communication.	This writing demonstrates lack of control of correct sentence construction, usage, grammar and mechanics. Jarring errors impair communication.

STANDARD PERSONAL RESPONSE RUBRIC

	Excellent (10,9)	Proficient (8,7)	Satisfactory (6,5)	Limited/Poor (4,3)	Insufficient (INS)
Ideas & Impressions -quality of ideas -exploration of topic -effectiveness of support	Perceptions and/or ideas expressed are insightful, carefully considered, & confident. Support is apt & effective.	Perceptions and/or ideas expressed are thought or considered. Support is relevant, purposeful or thorough	Perceptions and/or ideas expressed are appropriate. Support is straightforward & generally focused.	Perceptions and/or ideas expressed are incomplete, superficial, or unaware. Support is inappropriate and/or repetitive.	The student has written so little that it is not possible to assess Ideas & Impressions OR No evidence of an attempt to address the task presented in the assignment.
Presentation -effectiveness of voice -quality of language & expression -development & unifying effect	The writer's voice is engaging & tone is effective. Stylistic choices are precise & effective. The unifying effect & development are skilfully sustained & fluent.	The writer's voice is distinct & the tone is well considered. Stylistic choices are specific. The unifying effect & development are coherently sustained & generally fluent.	The writer's voice is matter-of-fact, and the tone is appropriate. Stylistic choice are adequate. The unifying effect & development are clear, conventional & maintained generally, but coherence may falter.	The writer's voice is ineffective, and/or the tone is inappropriate. Stylistic choices are inappropriate and/or imprecise. The unifying effect & development are unclear and/or ineffective, and coherence falters.