WHST.6-8.1: Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.

Criteria and Scoring

Introduce claim(s)
about a topic or issue
Acknowledge and
distinguish claim(s)
from alternate or
opposing claims
Organize reasons and
evidence logically
Demonstrate an
understanding of a
text or topic
Support claims with
logical reasoning,
relevant and accurate
data/evidence
Use credible sources

Create cohesion by
using words, phrases,
clauses
Clarify relationships
among claims,
counterclaims,
reasons, evidence by
using words, phrases,
clauses
Establish and
maintain a formal
style
Write a conclusion
(statement or
section) that follows
from and supports
the presented
argument

4
Precisely introduce
claims about
topic/issue
Clearly acknowledge
and distinguish claims
from alternate or
opposing claims
Clearly organize
reasons and evidence
logically
Demonstrate a
sophisticated
understanding of a
text or topic
Support claims with
sophisticated logical
reasoning, relevant
and accurate
data/evidence
Use highly credible
sources
Create refined
cohesion by using
sophisticated words,
phrases, clauses
Clarify relationships
among claims,
counterclaims,
reasons, evidence by
using sophisticated
words, phrases,
clauses
Sophisticatedly
establish and
maintain a formal
style
Write a sophisticated
conclusion
(statement or
section) that follows
from and supports
the presented
argument

3
Introduce claims
about topic/issue
Acknowledge and
distinguish claims
from alternate or
opposing claims
Organize reasons and
evidence logically
Demonstrate an
understanding of a
text or topic
Support claims with
logical reasoning,
relevant and accurate
data/evidence
Use credible sources

Create cohesion by
using words, phrases,
clauses
Clarify relationships
among claims,
counterclaims,
reasons, evidence by
using words, phrases,
clauses
Establish and
maintain a formal
style
Write a conclusion
(statement or
section) that follows
from and supports
the presented
argument

2
Simply introduce
claims about
topic/issue
Simply acknowledge
and distinguish claims
from alternate or
opposing claims

Create simple
cohesion by using
simplified words,
phrases, clauses
Clarify relationships
among claims,
counterclaims,
reasons, evidence by
using simplified
words, phrases,
clauses
Simply establish and
maintain a formal
style

1
Attempt to introduce
claims about
topic/issue
Attempt to
acknowledge and
distinguish claims
from alternate or
opposing claims
Attempt to organize
reasons and evidence
logically
Attempt to
Demonstrate an
understanding of a
text or topic
Support claims with
attempt at logical
reasoning, relevant
and accurate
data/evidence
Student receives a 0 if
no sources are given
when needed
Attempt to create
cohesion by using
simplified words,
phrases, clauses
Clarify relationships
among claims,
counterclaims,
reasons, evidence by
attempting to use
words, phrases,
clauses
Attempt to establish
and maintain a formal
style

Write a simplified
conclusion
(statement or
section) that follows
from and supports
the presented
argument

Attempt to write a
conclusion
(statement or
section) that follows
from and supports
the presented
argument

Simply organize
reasons and evidence
logically
Demonstrate a
simplified
understanding of a
text or topic
Support claims with
simplified logical
reasoning, relevant
and accurate
data/evidence
Use somewhat
credible sources