Opinion Essay Rubric

CATEGORY

5 Excellent

4 Very Good

3 Approaching standards

The position statement provides a clear, strong The position statement provides a clear
A position statement is present, but
(Authors opinion/position statement of the authors position on the topic. statement of the authors position on the does not make the author's position
topic.
clear.
statement)

Topic Sentence

Attention Grabber
(Introduction)

The introductory paragraph has a strong hook The introductory paragraph has a hook or
or attention grabber that is appropriate for the attention grabber, but it is weak, rambling
audience. This could be a strong statement, a or inappropriate for the audience.
relevant quotation or a question addressed to
the reader.

Sequencing Paragraphs Arguments and support are provided in a

2 Bellow standards

There is no position statement but

there is an introduction.

The author has an interesting

The introductory paragraph does
introductory paragraph but there is no not include a hook AND is not
hook and the connection to the topic relevant to the topic.
is not clear.

Arguments and support are provided in a

logical order that makes it easy and interesting fairly logical order that makes it
to follow the author's train of thought. Reasons reasonably easy to follow the author's
are developed in separate paragraphs.
train of thought. Two reasons are
developed in one paragraph.

A few of the support details or

arguments are not in an expected or
logical order, distracting the reader
and making the essay seem a little
confusing. More than two reasons are
developed in the same paragraph.

Many of the support details or

arguments are not in an expected
or logical order, distracting the
reader and making the essay seem
very confusing. There is only one
paragraph in the essay.

Includes three or more excellent reasons which

are stated with good support. It is evident that
a lot of thought and research was put into this
assignment. Gives evidence such as facts,
statistics, examples, or real-life experiences
that support the position statement. The writer
anticipates the reader's arguments and has
provided at least 1 counter-argument.

Includes three or more reasons but the

support is weak in places. Includes some
pieces of evidence that support the
position statement. No counter-argument
is provided.

Two reasons are provided but with

weak arguments. Includes 1 or fewer
pieces of evidence(facts, statistics,
examples, real-life experiences).

Less than two reasons are made.

Arguments are weak or missing.

Grammar & Spelling

Author makes few errors (1-2) in grammar or

spelling that do not distract the reader from
the content.

Author makes 3-4 errors in grammar or

spelling that do not distract the reader
from the content.

Author makes 5-6 errors in grammar

or spelling that distract the reader
from the content.

Author makes more than 6 errors

in grammar or spelling that distract
the reader from the content.

Transitions

A variety of thoughtful transitions are used.

They clearly show how ideas are connected.

Transitions show how ideas are

connected, but there is little variety.

Some transitions work well, but some

connections between ideas are
unclear.

The transitions between ideas are

unclear OR nonexistent.

The conclusion is strong and leaves the reader

solidly understanding the writer's position.
Effective restatement of the position statement
begins the closing paragraph.

The conclusion is recognizable. The

author's position is restated within the
first two sentences of the closing
paragraph.

The author's position is restated

within the closing paragraph, but not
near the beginning.

The conclusion is very brief. The

author foes not restate his/her
opinion.

Reasons and Support

(Paragraphs)

(Linking words and

expressions)

Closing paragraph

Olivia-Dumitrina Nechita

rubric adapted from rubistar.4teachers.org

Opinion Essay Rubric

Students will do the opinion essay during session 9. In session 8 they will tell the teacher their topic. If they have chosen a commercial, they should
either print it out and attach it to the essay when theyll hand it in to the teacher, or write down the link of the commercial (this also applies to
newspaper articles found online or on paper, a certain toy they want to talk about etc.)
Students will be shown the rubric. They will read it in class with the teacher who will clarify possible doubts.
The opinion essay is 35% of the final grade.

Olivia-Dumitrina Nechita