Describing Organization

• Ideas and paragraphs are organized logically.
• Author follows the appropriate organization for the genre.
• Author includes a thesis that is concise, original, significant, and debatable.
• The thesis is backed with several supporting claims.
• The supporting claims are backed with evidence.
• Author uses appropriate subheadings.
• Each paragraph is unified by a single idea.
• Each paragraph includes a topic sentence articulating that idea.
• Author uses transitions that explain the relationship between the thesis & the topic sentence.
• Author uses “signposts” to orient readers & tell them where they’re going.
• Author includes an introduction that provides the thesis and main claims of the paper.
• Author includes an introduction that provides context including previous research.
• Author includes an introduction that provides a brief description of the object of investigation.
• Author includes a conclusion that gestures toward further research.
• Author includes a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the paper.
• Author includes a conclusion that ties the thesis into the main goals of the course.

Describing Evidence Use

• Evidence is presented accurately.
• Evidence works to support the claims of the paper.
• Type and amount of evidence are appropriate to the conventions of the discipline and the genre.
• If the relationship between the claim and the evidence is nuanced, the author explains that relationship.
• Evidence is presented in a logical order.
• Evidence is properly cited.
• Evidence is drawn from reliable sources.
• If evidence takes the form of original research, presentation of this research follows the conventions of the discipline and genre.
• If evidence takes the form of narrative, narrative is logically organized, includes compelling details but no extraneous information.
• If evidence takes the form of quotations, quotations are introduced and summarized if necessary, and transitions are provided between the author’s own writing and the quotation.
• If evidence is drawn from other sources, sources are credited in accordance with the conventions of the discipline or the genre.
• Review of literature includes accurate summaries of relevant research, data, or theories.
• Author avoids rhetorical fallacies like straw man approaches.

Describing Synthesis

• Review of literature articulates a clear gap or contradiction in current research/theories.
• Avenues for further research are proposed.
• A case for the larger stakes of the project is made clear and is backed with any necessary evidence.
• Limitations of the argument are explicitly recognized and addressed.
• A counterargument is introduced and answered. 

Describing Clear, Concise Language

• Author avoids grammatical or mechanics mistakes.
• Author uses language appropriate to discipline and genre.
• Author avoids overgeneralizations.
• Author avoids wordiness.
• Author includes a hook that catches the reader’s attention.
• Author makes use of varied sentence structure.
• Author uses sensory details when providing narratives.
• Author uses rhetorical figures, like simile and metaphor, when appropriate.