Literary Analysis Scoring Guide
Two-Paragraph Essay
Writing
Exceeds Standards: student meets all of the criteria to meet standards, plus one or more of the following:
! Provides other anecdotal evidence or opinions in support of thesis.
! Writing style is characterized by a mix of complex and simple sentences using academic
vocabulary correctly.
! Where appropriate, essay contains a variety of expository styles including compare/contrast,
description, classification, etc.
! Evidence selected requires inference making for connection between evidence and claim.
Meets Standards: student meets all of the following criteria:
! Follows established format for brief analytical essay writing.
o Claim is an inference that interprets the text or addresses author’s intent.
o Body paragraphs with topics that support the claim.
o Details that support body paragraph topics.
! Evidence is relevant to the claims made in the body paragraph in which it appears.
! Evidence consists of specific, relevant quotations from and/or paraphrases of the text.
! Connection between evidence and claim is explained through analysis.
Approaches Standards
! Meets 3 of the criteria to meet standards.
Attempts Standards
! Meets fewer than 3 of the criteria to meet standards.
Academic Language
Exceeds Standards: student meets all of the criteria to meet standards, plus one or more of the following:
! Uses a variety of sentence structures.
! Uses complex transitions to link major sections of text, create cohesion, and clarify the
relationships between complex ideas and concepts.
! Demonstrates awareness of audience through use of diction and syntax (register).
Meets Standards: student meets all of the following criteria:
! Follows basic academic language conventions of punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.
! Uses basic transitions appropriately.
! Establishes and maintains a formal style and objective language (register).
! Integrates quotes according to proper format (including citations).
Approaches Standards
! Meets 2–3 of the criteria to meet standards.
Attempts Standards
! Meets 1 of the criteria to meet standards.