📖 The Writing Rubric
Writing Tools
Poor writing has little excuse with the availability of powerful writing correction tools. These tools are available in most modern word processing programs like Microsoft Word and Google Docs. They are also available as a browser addon at grammarly.com. Students who know this and choose to ignore the support, do so at their own peril.
Rating of 1 (Beginning)
Numerous errors in conventions distract the reader and make the paper difficult to read. The errors are so severe that they cause the reader to have difficulty in understanding the message. Much editing is required to turn the paper into a final draft.
- Paragraphing may be irregular, absent, or too frequent. It makes the organizational structure of the paper difficult to follow.
- Basic punctuation and capitalization are left out or incorrect.
- Grammar errors are very noticeable causing the reader to have trouble with the meaning.
- Spelling errors are frequent, even on common words.
Rating of 3 (Developing)
There are mistakes in conventions, but the reader can figure out what is meant by reading some parts of the paper more than once. Mistakes are not severe, but are distracting. Some editing is required to turn the paper into a final draft.
- Paragraphing is inconsistent. Paragraphs sometimes run together or begin in the wrong places.
- End-of-sentence punctuation is usually correct, but punctuation within sentences may be incorrect or missing.
- Grammar mistakes are not severe enough to cause the reader not to understand the meaning.
- Capitalization is generally correct.
- Spelling is mostly correct.
Rating of 5 (Strong)
The writer uses standard writing conventions very well to make the paper easy to read. There are very few errors, and the reader hardly notices them. Only light editing is required to turn the writing into a final draft.
- The paragraphing is obvious and makes the paper easy to read.
- The writer uses correct grammar that makes it easy for the reader to understand what is written.
- Capitalization is correct, and punctuation is smooth and helps the reader move from idea to idea without thinking about it.
- Spelling is correct, even on difficult words.
- The writer may make mistakes on purpose for stylistic effect.
Example
Below is an example of a student's actual post to a discussion board on this topic a couple of years ago. The student turned the post in with the errors shown in red. The corrections were completed by the instructor when the post was graded.
Was the student accurate in their self-evaluation? Does the student's work reflect well on the student? Does it demonstrate the student's understanding of the topic? Are the mistakes shown something they could have prevented? Do you agree with his notion that a 3-4 is college level work?
