5 Paragraph Essay Rubric

Proficient

20 pts

Adequate

15 pts

Progressing

10 pts

Beginning

5 pts

Introduction/Thesis The entire essay fits

under the umbrella of

one main idea. The

introduction is

interesting and grabs

the reader's attention

Thesis complete and

accurate. Introduction

is interesting and

exciting to reader.

Has a thesis but does

not grab reader's

attention with

introduction.

Incomplete/weak

thesis.

Introduction attempts

to introduce topic.

Following points are

not obvious.

There is a beginning

paragraph but there is

no visible thesis.

Body

Paragraphs/Support Has 3 body

paragraphs (5-10

sentences). Each

paragraph has a single

topic sentence and

complete supporting

details

Complete topic

sentences. Student

uses points which

support thesis

statement. There are

details which support

the points. Cited

examples support the

details and are

sufficiently

explained.

1 missing topic

sentence. There are

supporting points to

support thesis.

Details are included,

but may not fully

support points.

Supporting examples

are adequately

explained.

2-3 missing topic

sentences. There may

be some supporting

points; details are

inadequate or not

explained

sufficiently. Not all

points link to thesis

statement.

Missing body

paragraphs or

paragraphs with no

topic sentences. The

ideas expressed are

only opinion and are

not supported or do

not support the thesis

statement.

Conclusion - 3-4

sentences Conclusion restates

thesis and makes an

impact on the reader.

Conclusion is concise

and summarizes

supporting points:

restates the thesis in a

new way.

Conclusion provides

a summary of

supporting points: it

is wordy and does not

restate the thesis.

Conclusion may be

attempted, but does

not summarize or

restate thesis.

The essay has a final

paragraph, but the

essay has no end.

Flow/Transitions Each Word and

sentence clearly flows

from the one before it.

There is no

awkwardness.

Writing flows easily.

Appropriate

transitions used.

Vocabulary or

writing style needs

further development.

Some basic

transitions used.

Sentences are short

and/or contain run-

ons or comma

splices. Flow of essay

is hard to follow.

Little to no transitions

used.

Fragments abound.

Difficult to follow

meaning.

Mechanics

Errors in grammar,

spelling, punctuation,

and capitalization are

not found (0-2).

Minimal errors are

found (2-4). They do

not detract from the

general flow of the

essay.

There are several

errors (5-8) that

detract from the

overall meaning and

flow of the essay.

There are so many

errors (9+) that

reading is completely

overshadowed by the

quantity of errors.

Comments: