RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY RUBRIC

Most Effective

Somewhat effective

Shows progress

Needs work

Very ineffective

Rhetorical Knowledge
Ethos:
Expertise

Expert knowledge of
text/topic throughout.

Clear knowledge of
text/topic, sometimes
illustrates expert
knowledge.

Generally good grasp of

text/topic throughout
essay.

Intermittent or inconsistent
familiarity with text/topic.

No evidence of
familiarity or expertise
with text/topic.

Ethos:
Objective,
Formal Voice

Word choice consistently

creates an objective and
formal voice, which is
expected by a scholarly
audience.

Word choice usually

creates an objective and
formal voice.

Word choice sometimes

creates an objective and
formal voice.

Word choice only

occasionally or rarely
creates an objective and
formal voice; frequently
colloquial and/ or
opinionated.

Almost entitrely
colloquial and/or
opinionated.

Thesis

Thesis offers an
exceptionally insightful idea
that addresses the RA
prompt. It is specific,
sophisticated, and eloquent.

Thesis offers an insightful

idea that addresses the
RA prompt; it is specific,
sophisticated, and wellwritten.

Thesis offers an idea that

competently addresses
the RA essay prompt.

The thesis lacks insight or

states the obvious or is
extremely simplistic; the
thesis may not accurately
address the RA essay
prompt.

The thesis does not

answer the RA prompt,
or no discernible thesis
holds the essay
together.

Critical Thinking: Analysis & Evidence

Sources:
Credibility &
Relevance

Consistently uses sources

that are credible and
pertinent to the topic and
context in which they are
used.

Usually uses sources that

are credible and pertinent
to the topic and context in
which they are used.

Uses the required number

of sources; the sources
are credible and pertinent
to the topic.

Shows little evidence of an

attempt to refer to sources
that are credible and
pertinent to the topic.

No reference to
sources.

Sources:
Selection &
Integration

Consistently effective
selection of source material;
effective choices were made
concerning how writer
introduces and situates
sources.

Usually effective selection

of source material; good
choices were made
concerning how writer
introduces and situates
sources.

Competent selection of
source material; good
choices were usually
made about introducing
and situating sources.

Generally ineffective
selection of source
material; ineffective or
absent introduction and
situation of sources.

No selection of source
material; no
introduction and
situation of sources.

Analysis of
Rhetorical
Choices and
Context

Consistently focused on
analyzing how the text uses
rhetorical devices or
appeals, or comments upon
its historical/cultural
context; the analysis is
accurate, detailed and
insightful.

Usually focused on
analyzing how the text
uses rhetorical devices or
appeals, or comments
upon its historical/cultural
context; the analysis is
accurate and usually
insightful.

Some focus on how the

text uses rhetorical
devices or appeals, or
comments upon its
historical/cultural context;
some analysis may be
vague, obvious, or
inaccurate, but it is
generally competent.

Infrequently attempts an
analysis of how the text
uses rhetorical devices or
appeals, or comments
upon its historical/cultural
context; the majority of the
analysis is superficial
and/or inaccurate.

Does not analyze how

the text uses rhetorical
devices or appeals, or
comments upon its
historical/cultural
context.

Analysis vs
Summary

Insightful analysis
throughout; summary is
expertly used to introduce
and develop the analysis..

Moments of analytical
insight; summary is used
to introduce and develop
the analysis.

Analysis is logical (if

obvious); summary may
sometimes overpower
students own ideas.

Analysis is used
indiscriminately; summary
often overpowers students
own ideas. Little evidence
of analytic thinking.

No evidence of
analysis or analytical
thinking. Largely
summary.

Textual
Analysis

Analyzes specific and wellchosen excerpts from the

text or its historical/cultural
situation, and consistently
ties the analysis back to the
impact on the audience.

Analyzes specific and

usually well-chosen
excerpts from the text or
its historical/cultural
situation, and ties the
analysis back to the impact
on the audience.

Analyzes specific,
although sometimes
obvious, excerpts from
the text or its
historical/cultural situation
and sometimes ties the
analysis back to the
impact on the audience.

Analysis is sometimes
based on specific, although
sometimes obvious,
excerpts from the text or
its situation, but there is
generally an absence of
analytical thought, and the
analysis is not (or rarely)
tied back to the impact on
the audience.

Analysis is overly
general or there is no
analysisonly
summary and opinions
without evidence;
since there is no
analysis, there is also
no way to tie it to an
impact on the
audience.

Knowledge of Conventions
Grammar &
Mechanics:
Readability

Error-free, idiomatically and

grammatically effective
prose that is a pleasure to
read. Consistent control of
mechanics (punctuation and
spelling).

Almost always exhibits

idiomatically and
grammatically correct
prose that conveys
meaning clearly; essay is
easy to read. Almost
always uses mechanics
correctly.

Usually exhibits
idiomatically and
grammatically correct
prose that usually
conveys meaning clearly;
essay is readable.
Mechanics are usually
correct.

Grammatical errors, nonidiomatic sentence

constructions, and/or
incorrect mechanics
impede meaning; essay is
difficult to read and must
often be decoded.

Invasive grammatical
errors, non-idiomatic
sentence
constructions, and/or
incorrect mechanics
impede meaning;
essay is difficult to
read and must often be
decoded.

Language:
Eloquence

Sentence structure, variety,

style, and word choice
effectively enhance the
reading experience.

Sentence structure,
variety, style, and word
choice usually enhance the
reading experience.

Sentence structure,
variety, style, and word
choice are competent and
do not detract from the
reading experience.

Sentence structure,
variety, style, and word
choice sometimes often
detract from the reading
experience.

Sentence structure,
variety, style, and word
choice consistently
detract from the
reading experience.

Conventions
of
Organization

Exceptional understanding
of how to organize a
scholarly essay: structure,
coherence, and flow.

Clearly competent
understanding of how to
organize a scholarly essay:
structure, coherence, and
flow.

Competent understanding
of how to organize a
scholarly essay: structure,
coherence, and flow.

Understanding of the
organizational conventions
expected is extremely
simplistic or formulaic..

No evidence that writer

understands the
organizational
conventions expected
in a scholarly essay.

Conventions
of Format &
Documentati
on

Consistent use of correct

MLA formatting and
documentation throughout,
including title, font, linespacing, margins, pagenumbering, and correct intext citations and Works
Cited.

Almost always correct use

of MLA formatting and
documentation..

Usually exhibits correct

use of MLA formatting and
documentation.

MLA formatting and

documentation may be
present, but is usually
applied incorrectly

No evidence that writer

understands how to
apply MLA formatting
and documentation.