1. Essay #4 Proposing Solutions Essay Scoring Guide Grade
A Well-
Defined
Problem
A Clearly
Described
Solution
A Convincing Argument in
Support of the Proposed
Solution
An Indication of Readers’
Objections and Questions
An Evaluation
of Alternative
Solutions
Language Use MLA
Formatting
1 The problem
is clearly
defined and
the
introduction
successfully
establishes
that the
problem
needs
solving.
The writer
clearly
describes a
solution,
making it
easy for
readers to
understand.
The
solution is
very detailed
in its
description.
The plausible reasons for the
writer’s position show insight
into the issue.
All of the writer’s points
regarding the proposed solution
are convincing and adequately
supported.
The writer successfully argues
that the solution is feasible.
All of the writer’s points use
well-chosen textual support.
All paragraphs have strong
topic sentences and are well
organized.
The writer successfully
anticipates objections and
questions regarding the proposed
solution.
The writer successfully addresses
objections and questions readers
might have about the proposed
solution.
The essay transitions successfully
between accommodating or
refuting alternative solutions and
objections.
The essay is well argued and
devoid of logical fallacies.
The essay
convinces
readers that the
proposed
solution is
preferable to
alternative
solutions.
The writer conveys interest,
passion and engagement to
the reader.
The writer uses precise,
expressive language, which
may include wit, humor, or
figurative language.
Vivid vocabulary and a
compelling voice energize
the topic.
The essay includes a variety
of sophisticated sentence
structures.
Sentences are free from
major grammatical errors.
There are no major
punctuation problems and
few to no typographical
errors.
All references to
sources are
accompanied by
in-text citations.
The paper
contains an
accurate Works
Cited page.
Formatting is
perfect.
2 The problem
is clearly
defined and
the
introduction
successfully
establishes
that the
problem
needs
solving.
The writer
clearly
describes a
solution,
making it
easy for
readers to
understand.
The
solution is
very detailed
in its
description.
The plausible reasons for the
writer’s position show insight
into the issue.
All of the writer’s points
regarding the proposed solution
are convincing and adequately
supported.
The writer successfully argues
that the solution is feasible.
Nearly all of the points use
well-chosen textual support.
Nearly all paragraphs have
strong topic sentences and are
well organized.
The writer successfully
anticipates objections and
questions regarding the proposed
solution.
The writer successfully addresses
objections and questions readers
might have about the proposed
solution.
The essay is predominantly
successful in transitioning between
accommodating or refuting
alternative solutions and
objections.
The essay is well argued and
devoid of logical fallacies.
The essay is
predominantly
successful in
convincing
readers that the
proposed
solution is
preferable to
alternative
solutions.
Clear sentences and
accurate vocabulary engage
the readers in the topic
The essay includes a variety
of sentence structures
Sentences have only a
couple of major
grammatical errors and no
pervasive pattern of error.
The essay may include
some punctuation problems
or typographical errors
All references to
sources have in-
text citations.
A Works Cited
page is present,
but may have a
few errors.
A few mistakes
may occur in
formatting.
The essay meets
the assignment
criteria.

2. 3 The problem
is vaguely
defined and
the
introduction
does not
successfully
establish
that the
problem
needs
solving.
The writer
describes a
solution, but
it is not
always easy
for readers
to
understand.
The
solution is
somewhat
detailed in
its
description.
The plausible reasons for the
writer’s position do not always
show insight into the issue.
Most of the writer’s points
regarding the proposed solution
are convincing and adequately
supported.
The writer inconsistently
argues that the solution is
feasible.
Several of the points use well-
chosen textual support.
Most paragraphs have strong
topic sentences and are well
organized.
The writer inconsistently
anticipates objections and
questions regarding the proposed
solution.
The writer inconsistently
addresses objections and questions
readers might have about the
proposed solution.
The essay is uneven in terms of
successfully transitioning between
accommodating or refuting
alternative solutions and
objections.
The essay is inconsistently argued,
but is devoid of logical fallacies.
The essay
inconsistently
convinces
readers that the
proposed
solution is
preferable to
alternative
solutions.
Sentences show mostly
accurate vocabulary.
This essay may contain
minor problems in
grammar, punctuation, or
word choice, which distract
the reader but do not get in
the way of ideas.
Sentences show some
variation of structure and
style.
In-text citations
are present, but
are insufficient.
The Works Cited
page may be
incorrectly
formatted.
A few mistakes
occur in
formatting.
The essay meets
most of the
assignment
criteria: it is short
of the required
number of pages.
4 The problem
is vaguely
defined and
the
introduction
does not
successfully
establish
that the
problem
needs
solving.
The writer
describes a
solution, but
it not easy
for readers
to
understand.
The
solution is
vague in its
description.
The plausible reasons for the
writer’s position are unclear
and do not show insight into the
issue.
Most of the writer’s points
regarding the proposed solution
are not convincing or
adequately supported.
The writer inconsistently
argues a solution that may not
be feasible.
Few of the points use well-
chosen textual support.
A few paragraphs have strong
topic sentences but are not well
organized.
The writer inconsistently
anticipates objections and
questions regarding the proposed
solution.
The essay does not successfully
transition between accommodating
or refuting alternative solutions
and objections.
The essay is inconsistently argued,
and has logical fallacies.
The essay does
not convince
readers that the
proposed
solution is
preferable to
alternative
solutions.
Sentences are very simple,
showing little to no
variation in structure.
The essay contains serious
grammatical errors, making
the essay difficult to
understand at times
Word choices are very
repetitious or frequently
inaccurate.
No in-text
citations.
The Works Cited
page is short of
the minimum
number of works.
The essay does
not meet the
assignment
criteria. It is a full
page short.
5 The problem
is vaguely
defined and
the
introduction
does not
successfully
establish
that the
problem
needs
solving.
The writer
describes a
solution, but
it
incomprehe
nsible.
The
solution is
vague in its
description,
or it is not
present.
There are no plausible reasons
for the writer’s position.
Most of the writer’s points
regarding the proposed solution
are not convincing or
adequately supported.
The writer inconsistently
argues a solution that is not
feasible.
Few of the points use well-
chosen textual support.
A few paragraphs have strong
topic sentences but are not well
organized.
The writer does not anticipate
objections and questions regarding
the proposed solution.
The writer does not address
objections and questions readers
might have about the proposed
solution.
The essay does not transition
between accommodating or
refuting alternative solutions and
objections, because they are not
present.
The essay is poorly argued and has
logical fallacies.
The essay does
not convince
readers that the
proposed
solution is
preferable to
alternative
solutions.
Errors in grammar,
spelling, or misused
vocabulary seriously
impede comprehension.
No in-text
citations.
The Works Cited
page is missing or
incomplete,
OR the formatting
is problematic.
The essay is not
submitted or not
typed.
The essay does
not meet the
assignment
criteria.