Writing Criteria

Evaluation of written work is based on the rubric  developed by the Departments of English and Teacher Education. Scores of 0-4 are earned for each of the following criteria.

1. Content
2. Development
3. Organization
4. Style
5. Grammar, Mechanics, and Format

A PDF version of the complete writing rubric is available.

Translating rubric scores into percentages

For each of the five criteria, points are awarded as follows.

• Perfect: 4 points
• Excellent: 3.8 points
• Good: 3.4 points
• Proficient: 3 points
• Marginal: 2.6 points
• Non-proficient: 2.2 points

To calculate a percentage grade based on this scoring, divide the total number of points earned by 20. For example, an essay that scored a “perfect” 4 in each of the five criteria would earn a 20/20, or 100 percent. Work that scored “proficient” in all five criteria would earn at 15/20, or 75 percent.