Assessment Rubric for Essay One

Assignment 1 | Reading and Responding to Others’ Ideas 

Criteria | I will base your grade on how well you do the following: 

  • Focus on the presentation of the writer’s claims and evidence.
  • Organize your paper. 
  • Use the templates and suggestions from Part 1 of They Say/I Say. 
  • Summarize the source text to demonstrate your understanding of the subject matter. 
  • Author a writer’s memo about your writing process.
  • Use of APA style to identify the source text, other texts and in-line references.

Thesis Statement

  • Exceeding (5) Clearly responds to “What they say” by presenting a nuanced, arguable thesis (“I say”) that engages the reader.
  • Meeting (3-4) Thesis is clear and arguable, but it could better connect “They say” to “I say.”
  • Approaching (2) Thesis is present but either does not respond clearly to “They say” or lacks focus in the “I say” portion.
  • Needs Improvement (1) Thesis is unclear, missing, or fails to engage with any identifiable “They say” perspective.

Organization

  • Exceeding (5) Ideas flow logically, with transitions that demonstrate a clear connection between “They say” and “I say.”
  • Meeting (3-4) Generally well-organized, though some transitions between “They say” and “I say” could be smoother.
  • Approaching (2) Organization is uneven, with unclear or missing connections between “They say” and “I say.”
  • Needs Improvement (1) Lacks clear structure; little to no connection between “They say” and “I say” is evident.

Evidence & Support

  • Exceeding (5) Effectively introduces “They say” sources and offers insightful “I say” analysis that connects evidence to claims. 
  • Meeting (3-4) Introduces appropriate “They say” sources, though “I say” analysis could be more detailed or persuasive.
  • Approaching (2) Uses some evidence, but the “They say” is underdeveloped or the “I say” weakly connects evidence to claims.
  • Needs Improvement (1) Minimal or no engagement with “They say” sources, or analysis (“I say”) is missing or irrelevant.

Writer’s Memo Assessment Rubric | In responding to the Writer’s Memo prompt, the writer demonstrates a(n):

  • Exceeding (5) Rigorous and in-depth understanding of content and purpose through the development and support of their memo post. Appropriate organization and style is evident.
  • Meeting (3-4) Thoughtful understanding of content and purpose through the development and support of their memo post. Appropriate organization and style is evident.
  • Approaching (2) Awareness of content and purpose and attempts to develop and support their Writer’s Memo. Appropriate organization and style is evident.
  • Needs Improvement (1) Minimal or no attention to content and purpose. Memo post may be unsuitable, and/or the writer may not develop or support an argument. Appropriate organization and style might not be evident.

Assignment 1 | Reading and Responding to Others’ Ideas More Details

Length | 3-4 pages 

Due Date | END OF WEEK 4, 7 February 2025

Purpose |  In this paper, you will analyze an argument, locating and describing its essential elements. “Analysis” involves breaking something down into its parts. When writing this assignment, you will learn how to work with two essential elements of argument: claims and evidence.  

Topic and Assignment | Compose an argument analysis of one of the readings from our first unit. In your analysis, identify and evaluate the primary claims the author(s) make and the evidence used to support those claims.  

Organization | The opening of your paper should introduce the topic of the source text, provide its complete title and identify its author. You will also offer your readers a brief summary of the source text (no longer than a paragraph) and provide your thesis. Your thesis will offer an overview of the analysis that follows in the body of your essay.