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Interactive Rubric for Written Communication: Rubric

This guide will help you understand common conventions of academic writing and the application of marking rubrics

Rubric

 

CRITERIA

 

N (Fail)

P (Pass)

C (Credit)

D (Distinction)

HD (High Distinction)

1.

1.1.
1.2.
1.3.
1.4.
1.5.
PURPOSE

Topic
Thesis (Argument)
Context
Audience
Genre
The writing demonstrates a very limited understanding of purpose. This is characterised by:

· an irrelevant topic
· a lack of thesis
· an indiscernible context
· little audience awareness
.  an inappropriate genre.
The writing demonstrates a basic understanding of purpose. This is characterised by:

· a relevant topic · a thesis
· a context
· some awareness of audience
· some familiarity with genre.
The writing demonstrates a sound understanding of purpose. This is characterised by:

· a relevant topic
· a clear thesis
· an appropriate context
· awareness of audience and
· familiarity with genre.
The writing demonstrates a sophisticated and discriminating understanding of purpose. This is characterised by:

· a relevant topic
· an insightful thesis
· a focused context
· understanding of audience and
· a mastery of genre.
The writing demonstrates a sophisticated and highly discriminating understanding of purpose. This is characterised by:

· a relevant topic
· an insightful thesis
· a focused context
· mastery of audience and
· mastery of genre
2.

2.1.
2.2.
2.3.
2.4.
2.4.1.
2.4.2.
CONTENT

Information & Data
Conceptual Knowledge
Examples & Illustrations

Sources
   Relevance
   Authority
  The writing demonstrates a very limited and/or irrelevant selection of content and sources. This is characterised by:
 
· lack of information,  knowledge or examples
· incorrect information, knowledge or examples
· irrelevant information, knowledge or examples
· lack of relevant and authoritative sources.
The writing demonstrates a basic yet relevant selection of content and sources. This is characterised by:

· some relevant information,  knowledge and examples
· some relevant and authoritative sources.
The writing demonstrates a sound and relevant selection of content and sources. This is characterised by:

· mostly relevant information, knowledge and examples
· mostly relevant and authoritative sources.
The writing demonstrates a comprehensive and relevant selection of content and sources. This is characterised by:

· consistently relevant information, knowledge and examples
· consistently relevant and authoritative sources.
The writing demonstrates a comprehensive and highly relevant selection of content and sources. This is characterised by:

· highly relevant information, knowledge and examples
· highly relevant and authoritative sources.
3.

3.1.
3.2.
3.3.
3.4.
3.5.
3.6.
3.7.
ANALYSIS

Logic
Evidence
Specificity
Creativity
Criticality
Reflexivity
Evaluation
  The writing demonstrates a very limited analysis and synthesis of content. This is characterised by:
 
· illogical claims
· lack of evidence
· over-generalised claims
· unoriginal claims
· uncritical claims
· non-reflective claims
· lack of evaluation.
The writing demonstrates a basic analysis and synthesis of content. This is characterised by occasional use of:

· logical claims
· evidence
· specific claims
· original claims
· critical claims
· reflective claims
· evaluation.
The writing demonstrates a sound analysis and synthesis of content. This is characterised by frequent use of:

· logical claims
· evidence
· specific claims
· original claims
· critical claims
· reflective claims
· evaluation.
The writing demonstrates a convincing analysis and synthesis of content. This is characterised by consistent use of:

· logical claims
· evidence
· specific claims
· original claims
· critical claims
· reflective claims
· evaluation.
The writing demonstrates a highly discriminating and convincing analysis and synthesis of content. This is characterised by masterful use of:

· logical claims
· evidence
· specific claims
· original claims
· critical claims
· reflective claims
· evaluation.
4.

4.1.
4.2.
4.3.
4.4.
STRUCTURE

Section
Paragraph
Sequence
Cohesive Ties
  The writing demonstrates a very limited structuring and sequencing of content and analysis. This is characterised by:
 
· incomplete sections
· lack of paragraphing
· confusing sequencing
· lack of cohesive ties.
The writing demonstrates a basic structuring and sequencing of content and analysis. This is characterised by some use of:

· clear sections
· clear paragraphing
· logical sequencing
· effective cohesive ties.
The writing demonstrates a sound structuring and sequencing of content and analysis. This is characterised by frequent use of:

· clear sections
· clear paragraphing
· logical sequencing
· effective cohesive ties.
The writing demonstrates consistent and conventional structuring and sequencing of content and analysis. This is characterised by consistent use of:

· clear sections
· clear paragraphing
· logical sequencing
· effective cohesive ties.
The writing demonstrates highly effective and elegant structuring and sequencing of content and analysis. This is characterised by masterful use of:

· clear sections
· clear paragraphing
· logical sequencing
· effective cohesive ties.
5.

5.1.
5.2.
5.2.1.
5.2.2.
5.2.3.

5.2.4.
5.3.
5.4.
5.4.1.
5.4.2.

5.4.3.
5.5.
5.6.
5.6.1.
5.6.2.
5.6.3.
5.6.4.

5.6.5.
5.7.
5.7.1.
5.7.2.
5.8.
STYLE

Clarity
Tenor
   Mood
   Mode
   Narrative Form

   Active/Passive Voice
Tense
Vocabulary
   Academic
   Technical

   Inclusive Language
Literary Devices
Referencing
   Citations
   Reference List
   Quotations
   Application

   Paraphrasing
Formatting
   Font
   Spacing
Length
  The writing demonstrates an inappropriate and unconventional style. This is characterised by:


· lack of clarity
· inappropriate tenor
· incorrect or erratic tense
· limited vocabulary
· inappropriate literary devices
· unconventional referencing
· unconventional formatting
· inappropriate length.
The writing generally demonstrates an appropriate and conventional style. This is characterised by some use of:

· clear expression
· appropriate tenor
· consistent tense
· appropriate vocabulary
· appropriate literary devices
· conventional referencing
· conventional formatting
· appropriate length.
The writing demonstrates an appropriate and conventional style. This is characterised by frequent use of:

· clear expression
· appropriate tenor
· consistent tense
· appropriate vocabulary
· appropriate literary devices
· conventional referencing
· conventional formatting
· appropriate length.
The writing demonstrates a highly appropriate and conventional style. This is characterised by consistent use of:

· clear expression
· appropriate tenor
· consistent tense
· appropriate vocabulary
· appropriate literary devices
· conventional referencing
· conventional formatting
· appropriate length.
The writing demonstrates a highly effective and mature style. This is characterised by masterful use of:

· clear expression
· appropriate tenor
· consistent tense
· appropriate vocabulary
· appropriate literary devices
· conventional referencing
· conventional formatting
· appropriate length.
6.

6.1.
6.1.1.
6.1.2.

6.1.3.
6.2.
6.2.1.
6.2.2.
6.2.3.
6.2.4.
SYNTAX

Sentences
   Fragments
   Run-on Sentences

   Agreement
Word Classes
   Pronouns
   Prepositions
   Articles
   Conjunctions
  The writing demonstrates inappropriate and unconventional syntax. This is characterised by frequent use of:

· incorrect sentence structures
· inaccurate pronouns
· inaccurate prepositions
· inaccurate articles
· inaccurate conjunctions.
The writing demonstrates conventional but basic syntax. This is characterised by some use of:

· conventional and complex sentence structures
· accurate pronouns
· accurate prepositions
· accurate articles
· accurate conjunctions.
The writing demonstrates sound and conventional syntax. This is characterised by frequent use of:

· conventional and complex sentence structures
· accurate pronouns
· accurate prepositions
· accurate articles
· accurate conjunctions.
The writing demonstrates complex and conventional syntax. This is characterised by consistent use of:

· conventional and complex sentence structures
· accurate pronouns
· accurate prepositions
· accurate articles
· accurate conjunctions.
The writing demonstrates mature and sophisticated syntax. This is characterised by flawless use of:

· conventional and complex sentence structures
· accurate pronouns
· accurate prepositions
· accurate articles
· accurate conjunctions.
7.

7.1.
7.2.
7.2.1.
7.2.2.
7.2.3.
7.2.4.
7.2.5.
7.2.6.

7.2.7.
7.3.
MECHANICS

Spelling
Punctuation
   Apostrophes
   Full Stops
   Capitalisation
   Quotation Marks
   Commas & Colons
   Abbreviations

   Other (e.g., Hyphens)
Editing
  The writing demonstrates inappropriate and unconventional mechanics of writing. This is characterised by frequent errors in:

· spelling and
· punctuation.
 
Many errors could have been identified with basic editing.
The writing demonstrates basic but conventional mechanics of writing. This is characterised by intrusive but infrequent errors in:

· spelling and/or
· punctuation.
 
Some errors could have been identified with basic editing.
The writing demonstrates sound and conventional mechanics of writing. This is characterised by only infrequent errors in:

· spelling and/or
· punctuation.
 
There is evidence of basic editing.  
The writing demonstrates highly accurate and conventional mechanics of writing. This is characterised in complex writing by consistently accurate:

· spelling and
· punctuation.
 
 There is clear evidence of effective editing.
The writing demonstrates flawless mechanics of writing. This is characterised by masterfully accurate:

· spelling and
· punctuation.
 
There is excellent evidence of effective editing.

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