Focus is effectively stated and clearly maintained.

• The introduction is effective.
• The thesis is very appropriate to the topic; logical connections to the thesis are clearly maintained throughout.
• An effective closing relates to the thesis without simply restating it.

Support is extensive.

• Major points are supported and elaborated fully and evenly.
• Ideas are supported using multiple strategies.

The organizational plan is effective and clear.

• Coherence is maintained by an effective vertical plan; paragraphs present a purposeful, logical structure.
• Cohesion is maintained by effective horizontal connections.
• Transitions are effectively used to signal vertical and horizontal relationships.

The writing shows mastery of grammar and conventions.

• Very few minor errors occur in proportion to the amount written.
• Sentence structure is varied and effective.
• Usage is precise throughout the essay.

Focus is clearly stated and maintained.

• The introduction is presented well.
• The thesis is appropriate to the topic; logical connections to the thesis are substantially maintained throughout.
• The closing relates to the thesis without simply restating it.

Support is substantial.

• Most major points are supported fully, but elaboration may be uneven.
• Ideas may be supported using multiple strategies.

The organizational plan is clear.

• Coherence is maintained by a vertical plan; paragraphs present a logical structure.
• Cohesion is maintained by horizontal sequencing.
• Transitions are logically used to signal vertical and horizontal connections.

The writing shows good control of grammar and conventions.

• A few minor errors occur in proportion to the amount written.
• Sentence structure shows variation.
• Usage is often precise.

Focus is stated and generally maintained.

• The purpose is adequately stated.
• The thesis is generally appropriate to the topic; logical connections are adequately maintained.
• The closing may simply restate the thesis.

Support is adequate.

• Most major points are adequately supported; elaboration may be uneven.
• Ideas may be supported using a single strategy; support may be general.

The organizational plan is adequate.

• Coherence is generally maintained by a vertical plan.
• Cohesion is generally maintained by horizontal sequencing.
• Transitions are sometimes used to signal vertical and horizontal connections.

The writing shows adequate control of grammar and conventions.

• Minor and perhaps a few major errors occur, but they do not interfere with meaning.
• Sentence structure is adequate but may not be varied.
• Usage is adequate.

Focus may be clear, but it is not adequately maintained.

• The purpose may need to be inferred.
• Although the thesis may be appropriate to the topic, minor drifts in focus or lapses in logic may be present.
• The closing may be absent or only a repetition of the introduction.

Support may be limited.

• Some points are partially supported.
• Elaboration that is present may lack depth.

An organizational plan may be inferred.

• Coherence is partial; only some major points are appropriately paragraphed.
• Cohesion is partial because sequencing may be disrupted.
• Transitions may be inappropriate, intrusive, or absent.

The writing shows partial control of grammar and conventions.

• Some minor and major errors occur and may be distracting.
• Some control of basic sentence structure is evident.
• Usage may be imprecise.

Focus may be vague and poorly maintained.

• The purpose is vague or prompt-dependent.
• The thesis may be inappropriate to the topic and contain unrelated, illogical, or redundant ideas.
• The closing, if present, may be unrelated to the opening.

Support is rudimentary.

• Few points are supported by specific or relevant detail.
• Elaboration may be redundant or simply a list of specifics.

An organizational plan is attempted.

• Coherence is rudimentary, showing little evidence of a vertical plan.
• There is often disjointedness in the writer's efforts to transition from one idea to another and relate ideas to selected examples.
• Cohesion is rudimentary.

The writing shows rudimentary control of grammar and conventions.

• Many minor and major errors interfere with communication.
• Sentence structure may be rambling or fragmentary.
• Usage is imprecise.

Focus is unclear.

• The purpose is unclear and/or inappropriate to the topic.
• Any discussion present is confused.
• There may be no discernable conclusion.

Support is insufficient.

• Support and elaboration, if present, are irrelevant, insufficient, and/or confused.

An organizational plan is not evident.

• There is so little control of paragraphing that the response lacks coherence.
• Cohesion is not evident.
• Sequencing is confused. Almost no points are logically related.

The writing shows little control of grammar and conventions.

• Minor and major errors are so various and numerous that meaning is seriously impeded.