Downtown High School Response to Literature Essay Rubric
Body
Introduction
4
Exceeds Expectations
The student:
 Demonstrates critical analysis of the
text by providing a detailed summary
of the book, its plot and its themes.
 Presents an original, thoughtprovoking thesis statement that
takes an arguable yet provable
position on an issue related to the
class/book themes.
 Defends thesis statement with three
original, critical supporting points
that reflect a complex understanding
of the book and its themes.
 Writes a strong, sophisticated topic
sentence that clearly elaborates the
thesis and supporting point in each
body paragraph.
 Introduces each quote by providing
engaging information to enhance
understanding of the topic sentence
or argument.
 Chooses two or more relevant
quotes in each paragraph, with
direct evidence that strongly
enhances the topic sentence or
supporting point.
 Analyzes each quote with four or
more sentences that clearly
articulate a justification of the
paragraph’s supporting point and the
thesis statement overall.
 Writes a thought provoking
concluding sentence that
summarizes the thesis and
supporting point in each body
paragraph.
3
Meets Expectations
The student:
 Demonstrates comprehensive
understanding of the text by
providing a clear summary of the
book, its plot and its themes.
 Presents a thesis statement that
takes an arguable yet provable
position on an issue related to the
class/book themes.
2
Approaches Expectations
The student:
 Demonstrates basic understanding
of the text by providing a summary
of the book, its plot and its themes,
might lacks depth.
 Presents a basic, arguable thesis
statement that is related to
class/book themes.
1
Neglects Expectations
The student:
 Provides a basic summary of the
book but does not demonstrate
sufficient understanding of its plot
and its themes.
 Presents unclear thesis statement
and/or writes a thesis that is
unrelated to the topic.
 Defends thesis statement with three
supporting points that reflect a
strong understanding of the book
and its themes.
 Writes a topic sentence that is
specific and rephrases the thesis and
supporting point in each body
paragraph.
 Introduces each quote by providing a
clear context relating it to the topic
sentence or argument.
 Defends thesis statement with three
supporting points that attempt to
relate to the book and its themes.
 Chooses a minimum of two quotes in
each paragraph that work to
effectively provide convincing
evidence for the topic sentence or
supporting point.
 Analyzes each quote with three
sentences that clearly explain how
its meaning works to justify the
paragraph’s supporting point and
the thesis statement overall.
 Writes a concluding sentence that
summarizes the thesis and
supporting point in each body
paragraph.
 Chooses a minimum of two quotes in
each paragraph that are not well
connected to the topic sentence or
supporting point.
 Defends thesis statement with
three supporting points that are
not specifically related to the
book.
 Lacks a topic sentence in one or
more of the body paragraphs, or
fails to relate it to the thesis
statement.
 Introduces each quote with noncontextual or irrelevant
information to support the topic
sentence or argument.
 Chooses one or fewer quotes and
is poorly connected to the topic
sentence or supporting point.
 Writes a weak topic sentence that is
non-specific and poorly addresses
the thesis and supporting point in
each paragraph.
 Introduces each quote with vague
contextual information to support
the topic sentence or argument.
 Analyzes each quote by generally
explaining how its meaning works to
justify the paragraph’s supporting
point and the thesis statement
overall.
 Writes a concluding sentence that
neglects to summarize the thesis and
supporting point in each body
paragraph.
 Summarizes each quote and failing
to connect them to the topic
sentence or supporting point.
 Abruptly concludes the paragraph
without summarization.
1
Conclusion
Downtown High School Response to Literature Essay Rubric
4
Exceeds Expectations
The student:
 Uses new, reflective language that
critically analyzes and reinforces the
thesis and supporting points.
3
Meets Expectations
The student:
 Uses new language to summarize
and reinforces the thesis and
supporting points.
 Seamlessly connects the essay with
larger, relevant social issues by
explicitly tying them to lessons
learned from the book.
 End the essay with an original and
relevant discussion directly
connected to the book’s themes.
 Connects the book’s themes with
larger relevant social issues and
informs the reader of lessons
learned from the book.
 Ends the essay with thought
provoking statements directly
connected to the book’s themes.
2
Approaches Expectations
The student:
 Restates thesis and supporting
points using the same or very similar
language as the introduction and/or
body paragraphs.
 Refers to larger issues or lessons
learned but offers little explanation
of connections to the book.
1
Neglects Expectations
The student:
 Makes no reference to the thesis
or does not include all supporting
points.
 Ends the essay with general
statements related to the book’s
themes.
 Ends the essay with irrelevant
statements unrelated to the
book’s themes.
 Does not address larger context,
issues, lessons learned, or
connections to the book.
OVERALL SCORES (Circle one.)
Introduction
4
3
2
1
Comment:
Body
4
3
2
1
Comment:
Conclusion
4
3
2
1
Comment:
ESSAY
4
3
2
1
Comment:
2