Name: ______________________________________________
Literary Essay Rubric
Criteria Expert (4)
Focus (2) ● All details are evidence based
and relevant (help to support
claim)
Lead/Introdu ● Expertly engages the reader
ction and by crafting an introduction
Conclusion with a “hook, clearly stated
(3) claim, supports, and names
the author and text
● Expertly crafts a conclusion
that summarizes the main
points of the essay
● statement to make the reader
“think” (lesson learned /
generalization)
Organization ● Includes well-sequenced,
(3) indented paragraphs (topic
sentence, sentences with
explanations, closing
sentence)
● Body paragraphs are
organized, restating the claim
and one support
● Many transitions
(words/phrases/ sentences)
are used correctly
3.5 Practitioner (3) 2.5
● Most details are
evidence based and
relevant (help to
support claim)
● Effectively engages the
reader by crafting an
introduction with a
“hook, clearly stated
claim, supports, and
names the author and
text
● Effectively summarizes
the main points of the
literary essay in the
conclusion
● Includes sequenced
paragraphs (topic
sentence, detail
sentences with
explanations, closing
sentence)
● Most transitions
(words/phrases/
sentences) are used
correctly
Score: _________________________________
Apprentice (2)
● Some details are evidence
based and relevant
● Writer attempts an
introduction and
conclusion but essential
component(s) are missing
OR
● Literary essay lacks an
introduction or a
conclusion
● Some paragraphs lack
essential components
● Some transitional
words/phrases/ sentences
are used correctly
1.5 Novice (1)
● None of the details
are evidence based
and relevant
● Literary essay is
lacking both an
introduction and a
conclusion
● Writing lacks
organization
● Transitional
words/phrases/
sentences are NOT
used correctly
Developmen ● All pieces of evidence
t/Elaboratio identified to show the
n (3) support is true is from the
text and well developed,
either paraphrased or quoted
● Includes at least two clear
examples from the text that
show the support is true.
● Includes explanations of the
evidence (ex: this
demonstrates…; this
suggests…: this is important
because…)
Usage of ● Errors made are minimal
Grade Level which result in a fluid essay
Grammar/M that is easy to read and
echanics/ understand
Spelling (2)
Sentence ● Consistently uses varied
Structure (1) sentence structure (ex.
simple, complex, compound)
Word Choice ● Uses higher-level vocabulary
(1) which adds interest
throughout the writing
● Most pieces of ● Some pieces of evidence ● Evidence is not
evidence are further are further developed further developed
developed and either and/or some are copied or most/all
paraphrased or quoted from the text (plagiarized) evidence used is
● Includes at least two copied from the
examples from the text text (plagiarized)
that show the support
is true.
● Few errors made that ● Many errors made, some ● The errors made
impact meaning of the which impact meaning and impact meaning of
essay and make it easy make the essay hard to the entire essay
to read and read and understand in and make it difficult
understand certain areas to read and
understand
● Sometimes uses varied ● Uses simple sentences ● Writing contains
sentence structure (ex. fragments and/or
simple, complex, run-ons
compound)
● Uses grade-level ● Uses some grade-level ● Does not use
vocabulary correctly vocabulary correctly grade-level
throughout the writing vocabulary
correctly