1—Beginning

2—Developing

3—Skilled

4--Exemplary

Topic Sentence

Does not appear to have a topic sentence

Topic sentence is clearly stated but may not be in an appropriate place in the paragraph.  It has one or two of the basic characteristics (narrow, specific, worthwhile, arguable)

Topic sentence is clearly stated in an appropriate place  in the paragraph and has at least two thesis characteristics (narrow, specific, worthwhile, arguable)

Thesis is clearly stated in an appropriate place in the paragraph and is narrow, specific, worthwhile, and arguable

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Title and Opening

The paragraph does not have a title, does not clearly establish an opening and does  not prepare the reader for the content of the paragraph.

The paragraph has a basic title, establishes an opening and provides some minimal information to prepare the reader for the content of the paragraph.

The paragraph has an effective title, the opening uses an attention-catching technique and provides most of the needed information to prepare the reader for the content of the paragraph.

The title and opening very effectively capture the reader’s attention and very effectively prepare the reader for the content of the paragraph.

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Closing

The paragraph does not have a clear closing and/or raises new ideas in the closing

The closing of the paragraph may not clearly link back to the thesis, but does give a general feeling of closure to the paragraph’s ideas; a related but new idea might be introduced

The closing of the paragraph makes a general link to the thesis, gives a very general feeling of completion of the paragraph’s ideas, and does not introduce any new ideas

The closing of the paragraph very effectively links to the thesis, completes the ideas of the paragraph, and does not introduce any new ideas

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Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling

There are numerous mistakes with grammar, mechanics, and spelling which interfere with the paragraph’s meaning and overall readability

There are some major mistakes with grammar, mechanics, and spelling and some of those mistakes may interfere with clear meaning and overall readability

There are some mistakes with grammar, mechanics, and spelling but none which interfere with clear meaning and overall readability

There are few or no mistakes with grammar, mechanics, and spelling

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Unity

Ideas do not connect to each other and to the main idea well. Difficult to understand how they relate to the topic.

Few ideas connect to each other, supporting the thesis, but it is still fairly difficult to understand the point of the paragraph.

Ideas connect to each other and to the main idea, and even though the connections are not strong, it is possible to understand the point of the paragraph.

Ideas connect well to the main idea or topic sentence, and it is easy to understand the point of the paragraph.

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