FORMAT (10 points)
_____Title is appropriate and catches the reader’s attention
_____Organization of the paper is clear and logical / An outline is included with your paper
_____Manuscript form (margins, page numbers, introductory and concluding paragraphs)
_____Meets page requirement (2-3 pages)

DOCUMENTATION (30 points)
_____Parenthetical notation is correct
_____Appropriate material is documented (quotes and paraphrasing)
_____At least THREE sources are documented (one book / print source, one computer source,    one additional source)
_____Works Cited page is correctly formatted.
_____Research is a balance between the sources.

CONTENT (50 points)
_____The introduction is well-written and interesting
_____The main points to be discussed in the paper are introduced
_____The thesis statement is clear in the introductory paragraph, stating the topic and approach to the topic
_____There is a paragraph with background information in your paper.
_____No quotations in the thesis statement or topic sentences of each paragraph.
_____There are at least three reasons in support of your argument, each developed into a separate
 paragraph.
_____Each paragraph is contained within a topic sentence and concluding sentence
_____You present the opposing argument and refute this argument.
_____There is in-depth analysis of each specific example to show the relationship between the example
and the main point
_____Transitions are used to make the paper flow.
_____You use active, dynamic verbs
_____Body paragraphs demonstrate a thorough discussion of the main points
_____Body paragraphs have the writer’s Voice mixed with research
_____Quotations are included and properly embedded or incorporated in sentences
_____Conclusion is effective and calls the reader to action.

GRAMMAR / MECHANICS (10 points)
_____Sentence variety adds to the overall effectiveness of the paper
_____Vocabulary is on or above grade level and used correctly
_____Voice is appropriate to a formal essay
_____Grammar is correct or there are fewer than three mistakes
_____There are no fragmented or run-on sentences
_____Parallel structure is correct and clear
_____Correct spelling throughout