4

FOCUS: Sharp, distinct, restricted thesis on a cause-and-effect topic with evident awareness of task and audience.

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: Substantial, relevant, and illustrative content that demonstrates a clear understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship through the use of clear and focused topic sentences. Thorough elaboration with effectively presented and appropriately documented information, consistently supported with well-chosen facts, examples, and details.

ORGANIZATION: Effective organizational strategies and structures, such as logical order and well-chosen transitions, which develop a controlling idea.

STYLE: Precise control of language, stylistic techniques, and sentence structures that creates a consistent and effective tone.

CONVENTIONS: Few or no errors in conventions, appropriate use of conditional tense.

3

FOCUS: Clear controlling thesis on a cause-and-effect topic with general awareness of task and audience.

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: Adequate, specific, and/or illustrative content that demonstrates an understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship through the use of appropriate topic sentences. Sufficient elaboration with clearly presented and researched information supported with well-chosen facts, examples, and details.

ORGANIZATION: Organizational strategies and structures, such as logical order and transitions, which develop a controlling idea.

STYLE: Appropriate control of language, stylistic techniques, and sentence structures that creates a consistent tone.

CONVENTIONS: Several errors in conventions, mostly appropriate use of conditional tense.

2

FOCUS: Vague evidence of a controlling thesis made about a cause-and-effect topic with an inconsistent awareness of task and audience.

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: Inadequate, vague content that demonstrates a weak understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship with vague topic sentences. Underdeveloped and/or repetitive elaboration with inconsistently supported and poorly researched information. May be an extended list of facts, examples, and/or details.

ORGANIZATION: Inconsistent organizational strategies and structures, such as logical order and transitions, which would effectively develop a controlling idea.

STYLE: Limited control of language and sentence structures that creates interference with tone.

CONVENTIONS: Many errors in conventions, somewhat inappropriate use of conditional tense.

1

FOCUS: Little or no evidence of a controlling thesis made about a cause-and-effect topic, with a minimal awareness of task and audience.

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: Minimal evidence of content that demonstrates understanding of cause-and-effect relationships. May lack topic sentences. Superficial, undeveloped writing with little or no support or research. May be a bare list.

ORGANIZATION: Little or no evidence of organizational strategies and structures, such as logical order and transitions, which would adequately develop a controlling idea.

STYLE: Minimal control of language and sentence structures, which creates an inconsistent tone.

CONVENTIONS: Disruptive errors in conventions, inappropriate use or no use of conditional tense.

0

Student demonstrates a lack of understanding of the task or makes no attempt to complete the performance task.