3. Target Rubric_Camfield

Purpose – The main idea(s) the author is trying
to communicate to readers.
4 = successfully communicates author’s position
or purpose and engages the reader in the topic.
3 = somewhat successfully communicates
author’s position or purpose and partially
engages the reader in the topic.
2 = gives evidence of a position or purpose but
argument does not engage the reader.
1= author’s position or purpose is implied or
difficult for the reader to discern.
Style – Word choice and sentence craft
most suitable to author’s purpose and
argument, designed for the target
audience.
4 = the author’s language is varied,
compelling and employed for effect; word
choice is precise and appropriate, creating a
tone that clearly communicates the writer’s
credibility, purpose, and argument.
3 = the author’s language choices are clear
and word choice is appropriate, creating a
tone that communicates the writer’s
credibility, purpose, and argument.
2 = the author’s language choices may be
unclear or misaligned with the context
created by the author’s purpose and
argument, resulting in reader confusion and
doubts about the writer’s credibility and/or
intentions.
1= the author’s language choices are
seriously confusing or misleading to the
extent that the reader has serious doubts
about the writer’s credibility and/or
intentions.
Argument -- The well-thought-out use of
evidence and perspectives to engage or
persuade the reader in ways that serve the
author’s purpose.
4 = author engages the reader in a deep
conversation about well-thought-out ideas,
arguments, evidence, and perspectives.
3= the author engages the reader in a
discussion but leaves some gaps in the
conversation.
2= the author presents ideas but does not
complete the conversation with the reader
using evidence and considering multiple
perspectives.
1= the author presents ideas but the
writing does not show use of evidence
and/or differing perspectives.
Coherence – The clarity of the argument.
4= the author avoids any unintended
ambiguity.
3 = the author lapses into occasional ambiguity
-- perhaps pertaining to organization, abrupt
transitions, faulty logic, and/or sentence
mechanics -- so that the purpose and argument
are somewhat unclear.
2 = the author’s expression is hampered by
ambiguity -- perhaps pertaining to
organization, abrupt transitions, faulty logic,
and/or sentence mechanics -- so that the
purpose and argument are unclear.
1 = the author’s expression is hampered by
such frequent ambiguity that the purpose and
argument are opaque.