Addresses the assignment thoughtfully and analytically, setting a challenging task.

Establishes a clearly-focused controlling idea and demonstrates strong sense of purpose and audience awareness.

Cites and analyzes relevant sources and evaluates their validity, effectively integrating them into text when appropriate.

Demonstrates coherent and rhetorically sophisticated organization; makes effective connections between ideas.

Provides clear generalizations with specific detail and compelling support.

Demonstrates superior control of grammar, sentence variety, word choice and conventions of standard written English.

Addresses the assignment clearly and analytically, setting a meaningful task.

Establishes a clearly-focused controlling idea and demonstrates a clear sense of purpose and audience awareness.

Cites and analyzes relevant sources, effectively integrating them into text when appropriate.

Demonstrates a clear and coherent organization, and makes connections between ideas.

Provides clear generalizations and effective supporting detail and reasoning.

Demonstrates adequate control of grammar, sentence variety, word choice, and conventions of standard written English.

Addresses the assignment, establishing a controlling idea and clear purpose.

Establishes a clearly-focused controlling idea and meets most audience needs and expectations.

Cites sources, adequately integrating them into text.

Demonstrates adequate organization, though connections between ideas may not be consistent.

Provides support for and some analysis of generalizations.

Demonstrates adequate control of grammar, sentence variety, word choice, and conventions of standard Written English.

Not address the assignment directly or clearly; it may distort or wander from the assignment or set a trivial task.

Show insufficient awareness of purpose, audience, or persona.

Display a lack of understanding of appropriate texts; fail to cite, integrate, or analyze material from the texts.

Display formulaic, random, or confusing organization.

Replace analysis with narration, summary, or description.

Fail to provide clear controlling general statements or supporting detail.

Show inadequate control of standard written English; error may distract or impede understanding.

Fail to address the assignment.

Demonstrate a lack of purpose or audience awareness.

Lack a controlling idea.

Lack organization or organize illogically.

Display an inability to generalize, analyze, or support ideas.

Fail to use sources or misuse the texts of others.

Show substantially inadequate control of standard written English; error may prevent communication.