Rutgers University - Newark, Writing Program Grading Criteria

Grade of A: An essay which merits an A demonstrates a generally high degree of competence and control of language. Typically, such an essay meets all of the following criteria:

·        Responds to the writing assignment thoroughly, thoughtfully, and with insight or originality;
·        Demonstrates strong reading comprehension of assigned texts;
·        Is well developed and supports analysis with effective textual evidence, reasons, examples, and details;
·        Is well focused and well organized, demonstrating strong control of the conventions of analytical essay writing;
·        Demonstrates facility with language, using effective vocabulary, sentence variety; and
·        Demonstrates strong control of the grammar, rules of usage, and mechanics of standard English but may have minor errors.

Grade of B: An essay receives a B which is written in a clearly competent manner and with generally consistent control of language. Typically, such an essay meets all of the following criteria:

·        Responds to all of the elements of the writing assignment competently and thoughtfully;
·        Demonstrates an adequate understanding of the readings;
·        Is adequately developed, using appropriate textual evidence, reasons, examples, and details;
·        Is focused and effectively organized, demonstrating control of the conventions of analytical essay writing;
·        Demonstrates strong competence with language, using appropriate vocabulary and sentence variety
·        Shows good control of the grammar, rules of usage, and mechanics of standard English but may have some errors and minor lapses in quality.

Grade of C: An essay which earns a grade of C demonstrates some competence but is limited in one or more of the following ways:

·        Does not address all parts of the writing assignment;
·        Does not demonstrate an adequate understanding of the readings;
·        Is thinly developed, often relying on assertions with little textual evidence or few relevant reasons, examples, and details
·        Is adequately focused and/or adequately organized, but connections between the parts could be more explicit
·        Demonstrates limited facility with language and minimal sentence variety
·        Demonstrates inconsistent control of grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Grade of D: An essay receives a grade of D if it has one or more of the following flaws:

·        Is unclear or seriously limited in its response to the writing assignment
·        Demonstrates a limited reading or misreading of the texts
·        Is unfocused and/or disorganized, demonstrating little control of the conventions of analytical essay writing
·        Demonstrates serious errors in the use of language, which may interfere with meaning
·        Demonstrates serious errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics, which may interfere with meaning.

Grade of F: An essay receives a grade of F when it:

· Demonstrates little or no ability to develop an organized response to the writing assignment
· Contains severe writing errors that persistently obscure meaning.