You may use the following rubric to evaluate your expository essays, and indeed, the taxonomy may be used more broadly to discuss the basic aspects of expository writing; for example, see the notes on summary & paraphrase. You may also be interested in Lynn’s Overview to writing an expository essay. An essay must demonstrate all of the characteristics listed under any “point” description to earn that score.
Focus & Purpose
- to earn 4 points:
- maintains evident certainty about its purpose
- focuses on a central, appropriate, and original thesis
- and includes relevant details without digressing from the thesis
- to earn 3 points:
- shows certainty about its purpose
- focuses on a central and appropriate thesis
- includes relevant details without digressing from the thesis
- to earn 2 points:
- usually seems certain about its purpose
- focuses on a central thesis
- includes details which are usually relevant to the thesis
- to earn 1 point:
- has an unclear sense of purpose
- strays from any central thesis
- includes information which is not relevant to the thesis
Development & Support
- to earn 4 points:
- includes enough persuasive and original examples to support the thesis
- shows the significance and relevance of the examples to the thesis
- shifts between levels of generality and specificity appropriately and elegantly
- to earn 3 points:
- includes enough convincing examples to support the thesis
- explains the significance and relevance of the examples to the thesis
- shifts between levels of generality and specificity appropriately
- to earn 2 points:
- includes examples which support the thesis
- forms connections between generalizations and specific details
- to earn 1 point:
- makes unsupported generalizations
- describes in detail what is irrelevant or self-evident
- repeats old ideas, or introduces new ones, in almost every sentence
Organization
- to earn 4 points:
- maintains a logical and elegant sequence in its discussion
- establishes clear and fluid connections between sentences and between paragraphs
- to earn 3 points:
- uses a logical and appropriate sequence in its discussion
- establishes clear relationships between sentences and between paragraphs
- to earn 2 points:
- uses a logical, but perhaps stilted, order of ideas
- has sentences which usually relate to those around them, and paragraphs that usually flow together
- to earn 1 point:
- has an unclear, illogical, or inconsistent sequence or direction
- presents difficulties for following the relationships between ideas
Tone & Audience
- to earn 4 points:
- maintains a consistent tone of mastery and enthusiasm which is effective and appropriate to the expository purpose of the essay and to the audience
- reflects careful attention to the audience in terms of their own probable interests and experience, and their needs as readers
- to earn 3 points:
- maintains a consistent tone which is effective and appropriate to the expository purpose of the essay and to the audience
- reflects suitable attention to the audience in terms of their own probable interests and experience, and their needs as readers
- to earn 2 points:
- has a tone, or attitude and effect, which is usually appropriate to expository discourse
- shows some attention to the interests, experience, and needs of the audience
- to earn 1 point:
- has a tone which is insecure, inconsistent, or inappropriate
- shows little attention to the audience
Style
- to earn 4 points:
- has sentences with an appropriate and engaging variety of structure and length
- is elegant and efficient in its use of language
- to earn 3 points:
- has sentences with an appropriate variety of structure and length
- is skillful and efficient in its use of language
- to earn 2 points:
- has some variety of sentence structure
- shows some originality with its language, and uses few unnecessary words or phrases
- to earn 1 point:
- shows little control over sentence structure and length
- has word choices which are usually unoriginal or inappropriate
- has awkward, unclear, or generally unmodified sentences
Mechanics
- to earn 4 points:
- shows few, if any, deviations from standard usage, grammar, and mechanics, and no patterns of error
- to earn 3 points:
- shows few deviations from standard usage, grammar, and mechanics, and no patterns of error concerning issues of basic grammar such as sentence boundaries
- to earn 2 points:
- shows occasional but not distracting deviations from standard usage, grammar, and mechanics
- to earn 1 point:
- contains patterns of error which are serious enough to interfere with the audience’s understanding of the essay