The topic is valuable and relevant; the paper makes a significant contribution to the audience’s knowledge; the writer distinguishes between a thesis-driven paper and an information-driven paper; in a thesis-driven paper, the thesis is clear, original, and insightful; regarding the subject, the author shows sophistication and significant depth of understanding.
The analysis fully supports the paper’s purpose and conclusion; the reasoning is complex and compelling; the writer’s ideas are thought-provoking and fully developed; the writer’s ideas are explicitly and thoroughly connected to the writer’s thesis; the writer engages in a sophisticated exploration of the issues; the writer’s reasoning is clear and compelling.
The support for the overall argument (topic + analysis) is compelling; the writer uses extremely well-chosen materials; the writer understands the distinction between primary and secondary source material and employs a combination of sources fully appropriate for the writing task; the writer employs source material fully appropriate for the writer’s discipline; the writer employs source material fully appropriate for the writer’s audience; the evidence for the writer’s ideas is clear and compelling.
Visual content adds significant value to the paper; visual content significantly enhances meaning; visual content is used in a sophisticated and compelling way; visual content supports the paper’s purpose and moves forward the paper’s ideas; all visuals are clearly referred to within the text.
ORGANIZATION
Outstanding (A range):
The paper exhibits a strong and overt organizing principle; the writer has clearly designed the paper’s structure to further the paper’s purpose and meaning.
Paragraph structure, length, and sequence are flawlessly designed to further the paper’s purpose and meaning; paragraphs strongly contribute to making the writer’s ideas and information readily accessible to the reader.
Key ideas are consistently clear and accessible. The supporting text is consistently organized around those key ideas and located optimally to develop those key ideas.
Sentences are presented in optimal order.
Introductions, conclusions, point sentences, and transitions consistently provide continuity and facilitate a reader’s access to the writer’s ideas and information.
ACCESSIBILITY
Outstanding (A range):
Syntax elevates the value and relevance of the topic and effectiveness of the subsequent analysis and support within its intended context.
Editing errors are virtually non-existent, thereby easing comprehension.
Layout is robust and provides heightened navigation of the text; balance, alignment, and grouping are dynamic and give a distinct sense of order on the page; visuals are strategically placed near the text they augment.
Formatting purposefully enhances the organizational elements; titles, headings and subheadings, bullets and lists, and typographical devices are dynamic; visuals are distinctly labeled and include figure number, figure name or title, source, and description.
