| CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Articulates a position in a central thesis | Articulates a well-defined position, purpose, or thesis | Articulates a position, purpose, or thesis | Articulates no position, purpose, or thesis; or it is unclear |
| Summarizes ideas, texts, or events effectively | Summarizes ideas, texts, or events accurately and adequately | Summarizes ideas, texts, or events accurately | Summarizes ideas, texts, or events inadequately, if at all |
| Communicates information using graphics and/or visuals that are appropriate to the audience and content | Tailors visuals to the audience and content | Includes visuals for the audience and content | Does not include visuals, or includes visuals inappropriate for the audience and content |
| PERSUASION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Employs audience-relevant theories, concepts, data and/ or evidence to justify conclusions or recommendations | Justifies conclusions or findings with evidence, concepts, theories, and/or data that the audience will find compelling and persuasive | Justifies conclusions or findings with relevant evidence, concepts, theories, and/or data | Lacks evidence to support conclusions or recommendations, or evidence used is not appropriate for the audience |
| Bases argument and conclusions on situational and/or organizational context | Argument and conclusions demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the given context | Argument and conclusions demonstrate a some understanding of the given context | Argument and conclusions are inappropriate in the given context |
| Recognizes and addresses counterarguments or alternatives | Addresses counterarguments and alternatives thoroughly | Addresses counterarguments and alternatives | Overlooks counterarguments and alternatives |
| ANALYSIS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| dentifies an organization's key competencies using an analytical framework | Identifies an organization’s key competencies incisively using a cogent analytical framework | Identifies an organization’s key competencies using an analytical framework | Does not identify an organization’s key competencies adequately; lacks an analytical framework, or misunderstands that framework |
| Bases analysis on disciplinary theories | Connects deeply with key disciplinary theories and concepts | Employs key disciplinary theories and concepts | Fails to employ key disciplinary theories and concepts, or employs them insufficiently |
| LANGUAGE/FORMAT | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectively organized-- sequences most important arguments first | The writer has correctly identified the key points and recommendations and put them at the beginning of the document; subsequent points are organized persuasively with each point building to the next | The writer puts most of the most important points and recommendations in the beginning; the organization pattern is mostly effective | The main points are not given until later in the document; the organizational pattern is confusing |
| Is designed for easy reading (skimming, headings, bullets) | The document includes clear headings, bullets, and formatting to help readers skim quickly; it is easy to pick out the main points without reading the whole document | The document includes some headings, bullets, and formatting to help readers skim, but they may have some trouble easily finding all key points | The document lacks headings, bullets, or formatting to help readers skim. Document looks text-heavy |
| Uses plain English; Avoids unnecessary words | Language is direct, audience-appropriate, and concise | Language is mostly concise with minimal use of passive voice or excess verbiage | Passive voice is common, sentences are often wordy, writer rambles |
| Uses an engaging style | The writing is interesting and audience-focused | The writing is somewhat interesting and audience-focused | The writing is dull; some points may be irrelevant to the audience |
| Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation | No errors | Minimal errors that do not detract from meaning or credibility | Multiple errors that make some sections confusing or hurt the writer’s credibility and professionalism |
| Uses correct citation formatting to provide source information | Cites all outside information using the correct citation format for the document—without errors | Cites all outside information using the correct citation format with minimal errors | Some citations are missing; the citation format is incorrect |