Assessment Rubric for Written Communication Skills

Performance Category	Rating = 4	Rating = 3	Rating = 2	Rating = 1	Score
Structure	Written work has clear and appropriate beginning, development and conclusion. Paragraphing and transitions are also clear and appropriate.	Written work has adequate beginning, development and conclusion. Paragraphing and transitions are also adequate.	Written work has weak beginning, development and conclusion. Paragraphing and transitions are also deficient.	Organizational structure and paragraphing have serious and persistent errors.
Content	Written work provides in-depth coverage of the topic, and assertions are clearly supported by evidence.	Written work sufficiently covers the topic, and assertions are supported by evidence.	Written work does not do an adequate job of covering the assigned topic, and assertions are weakly supported by evidence.	Written work does not cover the assigned topic, and assertions are not supported by evidence.
Mechanics	Written work has no major errors in word selection and use, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.	Written work is relatively free of major errors in word selection and use, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.	Written work has several major errors in word selection and use, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.	Written work has serious and persistent errors in word selection and use, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.