301 Editorial Rubric, By Leslie Bruce

SLO

Write for a specific

audience and
purpose.

Find, evaluate,
select, synthesize,
organize, ethically
cite, and present
information from a
variety of sources
appropriate to their
disciplines.

Absent or Below Basic

Audience's needs are
often not recognized:
terms and ideas need
explanation and language
needs adjustment for the
audience. Purpose (to
argue a position
persuasively) isn't clear or
achieved.

Developing
Shows some attention to
audience's needs,
sometimes defining
necessary terms and ideas
and using audienceappropriate language.
Purpose (to argue a
position persuasively) may
be unclear at times, and it
may not be achieved
convincingly.

Proficient
Usually shows attention to
audience's needs, defining
necessary terms and ideas
and using audienceappropriate language.
Purpose (to argue a position
persuasively) may be implied,
but it's clear and achieved.

Omits or uses incorrectly

MLA- or APA-style
parenthetical citations,
quotation marks, and
works cited list. Drops
quotations and ideas into
text without introducing
source. Frequently uses
irrelevant or unpersuasive
sources or relies
exclusively on one source.

A few errors in MLA- or

APA-style parenthetical
citations, quotation marks,
and works cited list. Often
includes sources without
introduction in cases when
introduction is necessary.
Sometimes relies too
heavily on a single source
or uses irrelevant or
unpersuasive sources.

Correctly uses MLA- or APAstyle parenthetical citations,

quotation marks, and works
cited list. Usually introduces
each source fully (as
necessary)reader knows
who did the research or
communicating, for whom,
and why. Use of sources is
usually diverse, relevant and
persuasive.

Compare, contrast,
and synthesize
carefully and
objectively the
relative merits of
alternative or
opposing arguments,
assumptions, and
cultural values.

Organize ones
thoughts and
communicate them
4 clearly and
persuasively to
address a rhetorical
situation.

Fails to support claims

with relevant reasoning
and/or specific
evidence. Objectivity
and a controlling idea
may be lacking.

Attempts to support
claims with reasoning
and evidence, but
specificity and/or
objectivity may be
lacking. A controlling
idea may be missing or
implied.

Usually supports the

controlling idea and
paragraph claims with
relevant, thorough, and
insightful reasoning and
specific evidence. Usually
maintains objectivity.

Organizational devices
(controlling idea,
headings, subheadings,
topic sentences,
transitions) may be
absent, unrelated to
the prompt, or
illogically connected.
Ps contain multiple
topics or are
disorganized.

Organizational devices
(controlling idea,
headings, subheadings,
topic sentences,
transitions) fit the
prompt, but may be
vague, too broad, or
inconsistenly or
illogically linked. Ps
may not be unified.

Clear organizational
devices (controlling idea,
headings, subheadings,
topic sentences,
transitions) fit the prompt
and tie ideas and topics
together adequately. Ps
are usually unified.

Spelling, syntax, diction,

or punctuation errors
often impede readability
or otherwise distract
from meaning. Lanuage
may occasionally suggest
a gender or cultural
bias. Design may be
inconventional or
ineffective.

Spelling, syntax, diction, or

punctuation errors are few
and do not distract from
meaning. Lanuage
respects gender and
cultural differences.
Design is conventional and
effective.

Spelling, syntax,
diction, or punctuation
Recognize, evaluate, errors impede
readability. Lanuage
and employ the
features and
may reflect a gender or
contexts of language cultural bias. Design
and design that
may be unconventional
express and
5
and ineffective.
influence meaning
and that
demonstrate
sensitivity to gender
and cultural
differences.

Advanced
Shows sophisticated attention
to audience's needs, defining
necessary terms and ideas
and using audienceappropriate language.
Purpose (to argue a position
persuasively) is clear and
achieved with style.

Advanced- the audience

is anyone that goes to
the beach. The purpose
of the editorial is to
convince us to be
careful at beaches,
especially after it rains.
And to extend the wait
time from 3 days to 5
days after it rains.
Correctly uses MLA- or APAProficient- sources were
style parenthetical citations, included in the editorial.
quotation marks, and works The sources were
cited list. Introduces each
persuasive and did flow
source fully (as necessary) with the topic.
reader knows who did the
research or communicating,
for whom, and why. Use of
sources is always diverse,
relevant and persuasive.

Supports the controlling

idea and paragraph claims
with relevant, thorough,
and insightful reasoning
Advanced- the claims
and specific evidence.
were relevant and
Maintains objectivity.
insightful. There was

much evidence to
convince the reader on
the topic. Perhaps add
an opposing idea to get
both sides of the stories?

Clear, specific
organizational devices
(thesis, topic sentences,
headings, transitions) fit
the prompt and tie ideas
and topics together
logically and seamlessly.
Paragraphs are unified.

Developing- paragraph
transitions need some
work. Paper was well
organized (controlling
idea, headings,
subheadings, topic
sentences, transitions)
but some parts were a
little vague, including
more specific data and
comments on it would
help.
Advanced- no spelling
Outstanding control of
mistakes, paper design is
language, including
effective. Just watch
effective diction and
out for the run-on
sentence variety. Lanuage sentences!

respects gender and

cultural differences.
Design is conventional and
effective.