GRADING STANDARDS

                           A -- Excellent  B -- Above Average C -- Average D -- Passing F -- Failing

The standards explained below are those on which to evaluate compositions. Matrices for grading should be designed around the following points:

A Theme: Clearly an outstanding piece of writing, vigorous, insightful, engaging. An original and perceptive thesis or central idea, well developed and supported.

•  Thoughtful and logical organization; a striking introduction and conclusion: an appropriate tone and point of view.
•  Carefully constructed sentences and effectively selected sentence types; fully developed, logically ordered, coherent      paragraphs.
•  Appropriate, striking, and precise words and phrases.
•  Effective punctuation; appropriate grammar and spelling; acceptable format.

• A clearly stated or implied thesis, logically and adequately developed.
• Logical organization; an appropriate introduction and conclusion; a consistent tone and point of view.
• Well-constructed sentences and a variety of sentence types; well-developed, logically ordered, coherent paragraphs.
• Appropriate and accurate words and phrases.
• Appropriate punctuation, grammar, and spelling with few exceptions; acceptable format.

• Clear organization; a serviceable introduction and conclusion; a recognizable tone and generally consistent point of view.
• Generally clear sentences and varied sentence types; adequately developed, logically ordered, coherent paragraphs.
• Essentially suitable and accurate words and phrases.
• Basically appropriate punctuation and grammar and correct spelling with any exceptions not serious; acceptable format.

D Theme: Below average achievement in expressing ideas correctly and effectively.

• An unclear thesis or central idea; an undeveloped thesis.
• Weak organization; a skimpy introduction and conclusion; inconsistent tone and point of view.
• Several unclear or poorly constructed sentences, little variety in sentence types choppy and under-developed paragraphs, little or no transition between paragraphs.
• Several inappropriate and imprecise words and phrases.
• Some inaccurate punctuation; some inappropriate grammar; some incorrect spelling; generally acceptable format.

• No thesis or central idea stated or implied or no development of thesis or central idea.
• Weak, illogical organization; an inadequate introduction and conclusion; an inappropriate tone and inconsistent point of view.
• Generally unclear, faultily constructed sentences, little variety in sentence types; skimpy and incoherent paragraphs; no transition between paragraphs.
• Numerous inappropriate and imprecise words and phrases.
• Distracting, inaccurate punctuation; seriously inappropriate grammar; numerous misspellings; unacceptable format.

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