NYS Regents Examination in English Language Arts — Part 2 Rubric: Writing from Sources (Argument Essay)

6 points

Essays exhibit: sophisticated claim; insightful source and topic analysis; insightful evaluation of a counterclaim.

5 points

Essays exhibit: thorough claim; thorough source and topic analysis; thorough evaluation of a counterclaim.

4 points

Essays exhibit: specific claim; appropriate source and topic analysis; appropriate evaluation of a counterclaim.

3 points

Essays exhibit: surface-level claim; emerging source and topic analysis; insufficient evaluation of a counterclaim.

2 points

Essays exhibit: limited claim; unclear or confused source and topic analysis; confused or no counterclaim.

1 point

Essays exhibit: unrelated or no claim; no source and/or topic analysis.

6 points

Essays exhibit: sophisticated support using a wide range of strategically chosen, relevant evidence; consistent avoidance of plagiarism with acceptable citation format(s).

5 points

Essays exhibit: thorough and accurate support using effective and relevant evidence; consistent avoidance of plagiarism with acceptable citation format(s).

4 points

Essays exhibit: sufficient and adequate support using relevant evidence; consistent avoidance of plagiarism with acceptable citation format(s).

3 points

Essays exhibit: basic support using relevant and/or generalized evidence; partial avoidance of plagiarism with emerging citation format(s).

2 points

Essays exhibit: insufficient support using limited, inaccurate, or irrelevant evidence; insufficient avoidance of plagiarism.

1 point

Essays exhibit: provides no evidence; no use of citations.

6 points

Essays exhibit: strategic focus on task; strategic organization of ideas; sophisticated language and sentence structure.

5 points

Essays exhibit: clear and appropriate focus on task; thoughtful organization of ideas; precise language and sentence structure.

4 points

Essays exhibit: acceptable focus on task; logical organization of ideas; appropriate language and sentence structure.

3 points

Essays exhibit: emerging focus on task; emerging organization of ideas; basic language and sentence structure.

2 points

Essays exhibit: lack appropriate focus on task, but suggest organization of ideas — or — suggest a focus on task, but lack organization of ideas; imprecise language.

1 point

Essays exhibit: little to no focus on task; little to no organization of ideas; incoherent language — or — minimal writing, making assessment unreliable.

6 points

Essays exhibit: exceptional control; virtually no errors when using sophisticated language.

5 points

Essays exhibit: considerable control; errors that do not hinder comprehension, even when using sophisticated language.

4 points

Essays exhibit: partial control; errors that do not hinder comprehension.

3 points

Essays exhibit: emerging control; errors that hinder comprehension.

2 points

Essays exhibit: lack of control; errors that make comprehension difficult.

1 point

Essays exhibit: significant lack of control; errors that severely interfere with comprehension — or — minimal writing, making assessment unreliable.