This guide is to help you evaluate your writing and to show you the criteria that teachers use to score compositions.
| 6 | The 6 composition is an excellent paper. It keeps the reader interested and uses literary devices in a creative way. Also it is imaginative; has a very clear focus, and is highly readable. In addition, it has excellent supporting details and few, if any, mechanical errors. |
| 5 | The 5 composition is an above average paper. It is competently written and it shows manipulation of language to achieve a desired effect. It has a clear focus and good supporting details. The content is thoughtful and interesting. There are few mechanical errors. |
| 4 | The 4 composition is clearly adequate. It conveys the writer's ideas in a satisfactory but simplistic manner. It lacks originality and is organized in a predictable manner. Support details are conventional. The reader has a clear sense of the writer's purpose but is aware of mechanical errors. |
| 3 | The 3 composition is barely adequate. There is little or no evidence of originality. An introduction and conclusion are included but supporting details are weak. The sentences lack variety and contain errors. The student has used limited, repetitive vocabulary and slang. |
| 2 | The 2 composition is adequate. The ideas are difficult to follow and lacking in support. The vocabulary is limited. The sentences are repetitive with few links between ideas. Frequent errors confuse the reader. |
| 1 | The 1 composition is unintelligible because it is too short and has too many errors. |