Week 8 Assignment	Exemplary 18-20 points	Proficient 16-17.8 points	Developing 14-15.8 points	Beginning 12-13.8 points	Inadequate 0-11.8 points
Comprehension of Assignment (20% of grade)	Drop-down menu: 20 – 18 pts. The persuasive essay presents a convincing and insightful argument. The writer takes a position and supports it with carefully chosen and compelling evidence that appeals to both logic and emotions. The writer explains important opposing arguments and offers strong rebuttals.	Drop down menu: 17.8 – 16 pts. The persuasive essay presents a well-defined argument. The writer takes a position and supports it with sufficient evidence. The writer offers counter-arguments.	Drop-down menu: 15.8 – 14 pts. The persuasive essay presents a minimally defined argument. The writer takes a position and attempt to support this position, but the evidence is underdeveloped and only partially elaborated. The writer may mention opposing arguments, but the rebuttal is weak or absent.	Drop-down menu: 13.8 – 12 pts. The persuasive essay presents a weakly developed argument. The writer takes a position but offers minimal and/or inappropriate evidence to support its claim.	Drop-down menu: 11.8 – 0 pts. The persuasive essay presents an ineffective argument. The writer may fail to take a position or offer only poorly chosen evidence to support the claim.
Application of Course Knowledge and Content (20% of grade)	Drop-down menu: 20 – 18 pts. The essay is focused, demonstrates a clear sense of purpose and audience, and uses appropriate tone and style.	Drop down menu: 17.8 – 16 pts. The essay generally maintains its focus and demonstrates a sense of purpose, tone, and audience.	Drop-down menu: 15.8 – 14 pts. The essay generally maintains its focus but may occasionally stray off topic. Its sense of purpose, tone, and audience may be unclear.	Drop-down menu: 13.8 – 12 pts. The writer’s ideas are difficult to follow because of significant problems in one or more the following areas: unclear focus, weak controlling idea, and redundancy. Style and tone may be inappropriate for the audience.	Drop-down menu: 11.8 – 0 pts. Ideas and explanations are absent, irrelevant, unsupported by evidence, or incomprehensible. The essay lacks focus. Style and tone are inappropriate for the audience.
Organization of Ideas (20% of grade)	Drop-down menu: 20 – 18 pts. Organization is coherent with appropriate transitions between and within paragraphs to create a cohesive whole.	Drop down menu: 17.8 – 16 pts. Organization is generally clear with transitions between paragraphs. A competency with language is apparent.	Drop-down menu: 15.8 – 14 pts. Organization is clear enough to follow. A limited control of language is apparent.	Drop-down menu: 13.8 – 12 pts. Organization is unclear. Writing demonstrates weak control of language.	Drop-down menu: 11.8 – 0 pts. The essay lacks organization, making the writer’s ideas difficult to follow. Writing demonstrates weak control of language.
Writing Skills (20% of grade)	Drop-down menu: 20 – 18 pts. Word choice is precise, sentences are varied, and grammatical errors are rare or absent. The assignment meets the APA requirements.	Drop down menu: 17.8 – 16 pts. Word choice is appropriate and sentences are sometimes varied. Some errors in sentence structure, usage, and mechanics are present. The assignment mostly meets the APA requirements.	Drop-down menu: 15.8 – 14 pts. Word choice is imprecise and sentences may be poorly constructed or confusing. Errors in sentence structure, usage, and mechanics are present. APA requirements are attempted.	Drop-down menu: 13.8 – 12 pts. A pattern of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics significantly interferes with meaning. Little or no attempt to follow APA requirements is demonstrated.	Drop-down menu: 11.8 – 0 pts. Errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics are pervasive and obstruct meaning. Little or no attempt to follow APA requirements is demonstrated.
Revision Skills (20% of grade)	Drop-down menu: 20 – 18 pts. Revisions are extensive and make effective improvements to the essay.	Drop down menu: 17.8 – 16 pts. Revisions are significant and demonstrate a thoughtful effort to improve the essay.	Drop-down menu: 15.8 – 14 pts. Some revisions have been made, but minimal improvements are evident.	Drop-down menu: 13.8 – 12 pts. Revisions are minor and may consist primarily of editing.	Drop-down menu: 11.8 – 0 pts. Little or no evidence of revision is apparent. Changes may consist only of editing.

Total: 100 pts.