Teacher Cadet Essay Rubric
Superior
Competence
5
High
Competence
4
Competence
3
Minimal
Competence
2
Little or No
Competence
1
An essay or report in this category:
• States or clearly implies the writer’s position or thesis
• Demonstrates critical analysis of the text and/or topic
• Organizes and develops ideas logically
• Clearly explains key ideas, supporting them with well-chosen reasons,
examples, or details
• Displays effective sentence variety
• Is virtually free from errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
An essay or report in this category:
• States or clearly implies the writer’s position or thesis
• Makes apt and specific references to the text and/or topic
• Organizes and develops ideas clearly
• Explains key ideas, supporting them with relevant reasons, examples or
details
• Displays some sentence variety
• Is generally free from errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
An essay or report in this category:
• States or implies the writer’s position or thesis
• Addresses the general meaning of the text or topic, perhaps presenting a
simplistic view
• Shows control in organization and development of ideas
• Explains some key ideas, supporting them with adequate reasons,
examples, or details
• Displays some sentence variety
• May display errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics, but these do not
detract from the reading of the essay
An essay or report in this category demonstrates some competence, but reveals
one or more of the following weaknesses:
• Limited in stating or implying a position or thesis
• Analysis of text or topic is vague, mechanical, incomplete, or overly
generalized
• Limited control in organization and development of ideas
• Inadequate reasons, examples, or details to explain key ideas
• Displays little sentence variety
• An accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics
An essay or report in this category is seriously flawed, revealing one or more of
the following weaknesses:
• No clear position or thesis
• Little or no address of text or topic
• Weak organization
• Very little or no development of idea
• Few or no relevant reasons, examples, or details
• Little or no sentence variety
• Frequent serious errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics
PROTEAM DREAMQUEST CURRICULUM
7-89