Exemplary 22.5-25 points	Proficient 20-22.25 points	Developing 17.5-19.75 points	Beginning 15-17.25 points	Inadequate 0-14.75 points
Comprehension of Assignment (25% of grade)	Drop-down menu: 25 – 22.5 pts. The essay presents a convincing and insightful analysis of an article. The author focuses on the rhetoric used in the article and identifies many of the strategies used in the article. The essay makes a clear and arguable claim regarding the use of these strategies.	Drop down menu: 22.25 – 20 pts. The essay presents a well-defined analysis. The author focuses on the rhetoric and provides sufficient evidence and examples. The essay makes a claim regarding the use of the rhetorical strategies.	Drop-down menu: 19.75 – 17.5 pts. The essay presents a minimally defined analysis. The writer attempts to identify rhetorical devices, but the evidence is underdeveloped or only partially explained. The writer’s claim may not be clear.	Drop-down menu: 17.25 – 15 pts. The essay presents a weakly developed analysis. The writer attempts to identify rhetorical devices but offers minimal and/or inappropriate evidence. The writer may offer a claim on the subject of the article instead of the article itself.	Drop-down menu: 14.75 – 0 pts. The essay presents an ineffective anaysis. The writer fails to identify rhetorical devices or offers inappropriate evidence. No claim regarding the use of rhetoric is attempted.
Application of Course Knowledge and Content (25% of grade)	Drop-down menu: 25 – 22.5 pts. The essay identifies and analyzes several rhetorical aspects of the article, such as main point, appeals (ethos, logos, pathos, and kairos), tone and style, and shows how these aspects work together to achieve the author’s purpose.	Drop down menu: 22.25 – 20 pts. The essay identifies and analyzes several rhetorical aspects and discusses their use in the article.	Drop-down menu: 19.75 – 17.5 pts. The essay may identify only a few rhetorical aspects or discuss them in superficial ways, offering little insight in how they work together.	Drop-down menu: 17.25 – 15 pts. The essay attempts to identify rhetorical aspects, but 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: 14.75 – 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 (25% of grade)	Drop-down menu: 25 – 22.5 pts. Organization is coherent with appropriate transitions between and within paragraphs to create a cohesive whole.	Drop down menu: 22.25 – 20 pts. Organization is generally clear with transitions between paragraphs. A competency with language is apparent.	Drop-down menu: 19.75 – 17.5 pts. Organization is clear enough to follow. A limited control of language is apparent.	Drop-down menu: 17.25 – 15 pts. Organization is unclear. Writing demonstrates weak control of language.	Drop-down menu: 14.75 – 0 pts. The essay lacks organization, making the writer’s ideas difficult to follow. Writing demonstrates weak control of language.
Writing Skills (25% of grade)	Drop-down menu: 25 – 22.5 pts. Word choice is precise, sentences are varied, and grammatical errors are rare or absent. The assignment meets the APA requirements.	Drop down menu: 22.25 – 20 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: 19.75 – 17.5 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: 17.25 – 15 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: 14.75 – 0 pts. Errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics are pervasive and obstruct meaning. Little or no attempt to follow APA requirements is demonstrated.