Essay Assessment

Essays that receive an A grade have the following qualities:

Titles allude to the slant of the essay. Essays, excluding the non-revised in-class essay, show substantial revision; revisions show that the author has considered audience, purpose and style, so it teaches the reader. Formatting is consistent throughout, with the writer's name, dates and other pertinent data. -- "A" Essays also have a controlling thesis, show an understanding of paragraph unity, include transitions between and within paragraphs, use level one abstractions, depict a mastery of vocabulary in diction and style, portray audience awareness, contain minimal surface errors, are free from any major grammatical error, capture the reader through writer's involvement.

These essays show the care and concern writers have taken to prepare and showcase their best work.

Title gives indication of slant of essay. Essay, excluding the non-revised in-class essay, shows revision; revisions attempt to show that the author has considered audience, purpose and style, so it teaches the reader. Formatting is consistent throughout, with the writer's name, dates and other pertinent data. "B" Essays attempt to have a controlling thesis, show an understanding of paragraph unity, include transitions between and within paragraphs, use level one abstractions, depict a mastery of vocabulary in diction and style, portray audience awareness, contain minimal surface errors, are free from any major grammatical error, capture the reader through writer's involvement.

These essays show some concern that writers have taken to prepare and showcase their work.

C (2.0)--Essays that receive a C grade have the following qualities:

Titles are general without slant. Some revision has been done; yet the writer does not show an understanding of the revision process, so surface error correction and minor details have been added, rather than a reworking of the essay. Formatting is not consistent throughout, with the writer's name, dates and other pertinent data. "C" Essays have a controlling thesis, but unclear unity throughout show an understanding of paragraph unity, include transitions between and within paragraphs, use level one abstractions in at least one or two body paragraphs, depict a minimal mastery of vocabulary in diction and style, portray novice audience awareness, contain some careless surface errors, contain a major grammatical error, attempt to capture the reader through writer's involvement.

These essays do not usually showcase a writer's care and concern, rather they portray an array of skills of a novice writer.

D(1.0)-- Essays that receive a D grade have the following qualities:

Titles are missing. Little or no revision has occurred. Formatting is haphazard throughout, with no care about location of the writer's name, dates and other pertinent data. Essays may lack a controlling thesis, an understanding of paragraph unity, transitions between and within paragraphs, level one abstractions, a mastery of vocabulary in diction and style, audience awareness, control and mastery of sentence structure.

These essays lack the care and concern a writer should have taken to prepare and showcase their work.

F(0)-- Essays that receive a F grade may have the same attributes of a D essay as well as

failure to follows procedure, plagiarized work or a general lack of care and concern. lack of proofreading, and a plethora of mechanical and/or grammatical errors.

Go to Evaluation for elaboration about point system.

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Last revised: November 19, 2009 by Jan Strever -- jstrever@scc.spokane.edu
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