How to Score a Timed Write

1.     Read the essay from beginning to end. Read it fast.

2.     Highlight strong writing – good diction, syntax, and imagery; convincing, credible evidence – in one color.

3.     Highlight egregious errors – misspelling of common words, capitalization errors, weaknesses in logos or ethos – in a second color.

4.     Give the writing a score based on content:

8 = effective

6 = adequate

4 = inadequate

2 = little success

5.     Adjust the score for the grace and quality of the style:

9 = a “pretty” 8 (“pretty” means exceptional diction OR syntax OR imagery)

7 = a “pretty” 6

3 = an “ugly” 4 (“ugly” means particularly weak conventions or simplistic diction)

1 = an “ugly” 2

6.     Special cases:

            A 5 is reserved for essays that are part 6 and part 4. If it’s almost a 6, then it’s a 4.

            If the conventions are not college level, the paper cannot score more than a 4. Frequent misspellings, capitalization errors, run-ons, and comma splices can lower the score of an adequate paper (a 6) to inadequate (that’s a 4, not a 5. A 5 is not an “ugly” 6).

7.     Write a brief justification of your score. Why is the paper not the score above? Why is not the score below?