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Holistic Scoring: Scale: 6 (Clearly Excellent)

A score of 6 designates a clearly excellent piece of expositional or referential writing.

• Focus: the main idea is very clearly stated, and the topic is effectively limited.

• Organization: a logical plan is signaled by highly effective transitions; the essay's beginning and end are effectively related to the whole.

• Development: all major ideas are set off by paragraphs which have clearly stated or implied topics; the main idea and all major topics are supported by concrete, specific evidence.

• Style: sentences relate to each other and to the paragraph topic and are subordinate to the topic; word and phrase choice is felicitous; tone is consistent and appropriate.

• Correctness: there are no major mechanical errors (e.g., agreement) and only a few minor errors (e.g., spelling).

• *References: source material is incorporated logically, insightfully and elegantly; sources are documented accurately, elegantly and emphatically.

Sample Essays

© 2005-2008, Southeast Missouri State University

Last Updated 28 January 2008

by Dave Reinheimer

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