Scoring Guidelines

8 - Effective

Essays earning a score of 8 effectively respond to the prompt, taking a position and developing the position with appropriate and convincing evidence. The prose demonstrates an ability to control a wide range of the elements of effective writing but is not necessarily flawless.

6 - Adequate

Essays earning a score of 6 adequately respond to the prompt, taking a position and developing the position with appropriate evidence. The writing may contain lapses in diction and syntax, but generally the prose is clear.

5 - Inconsistent

Essays earning a score of 5 provide uneven, inconsistent, or limited arguments and/or evidence. The writing may contain lapses in diction and syntax, but it usually conveys the student's ideas.

4 - Inadequate

Essays earning a score of 4 inadequately respond to the prompt. They may have difficulty taking a position or the evidence may be insufficient.  The prose generally conveys the student's ideas but may suggest immature control of writing.

2 - Little Success

Essays earning a score of 2 demonstrate little success in taking a position and supporting a position with appropriate evidence. These essays may misunderstand the prompt or substitute a simpler task by responding to the prompt tangentially with unrelated, inaccurate, or inappropriate evidence. The prose often demonstrates consistent weakness in writing.

Special Notes: 9's and 7's are prettier 8's and 6's; 3's and 1's are uglier 4's and 2's. 5's must show some evidence of "6-ishness." A really good 4 is a 4+, not a 5.