Score Point 6: Superior

Conventions of Language
 The writer skillfully applies the conventions of language.
 The writer makes very few, if any, mistakes in sentence formation, usage, and mechanics, and no errors are serious enough to interfere with the overall flow of the response or with its meaning.

Problem Solving
 The response exhibits a more sophisticated structural pattern that incorporates a greater variety of transitional words/phrases and shows some evidence of advanced rhetorical techniques.
 The response represents a persuasive essay showing strong evidence of efficient composition skills.
 The solution discussed is clearly related to the problem and is developed with relevant, convincing support (e.g., facts, examples, anecdotes).
 The main tenets of the problem and the solution are discussed and explained with in-depth support and detail.
 One or more alternative solutions, or multiple possible solutions, are included with clear discussion, analysis, and evaluation.
 The response is a logical and effectively organized argument that is purposefully presented.

Score Point 5: Proficient

Conventions of Language
 The writer is proficient in applying the conventions of language.
 Though some mistakes in sentence formation, usage, or mechanics are present, these errors do not interfere with the overall flow of the response or with its meaning.
 The response proficiently exhibits a structural pattern of multiple paragraphs with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Problem Solving
 This response represents a persuasive essay showing evidence of effective compositional skills.
 The discussion of the problem and solution is clear.
 The solution discussed is clearly related to the problem, and the support presented is appropriate and relevant, but the response lacks the detailed, in-depth support characteristic of the highest score point.
 One or more alternative solutions or multiple possible solutions are discussed, with some attempt at analysis or evaluation.
 The argument progresses logically with an organizational plan consisting of clear, transitional elements.

Score Point 4: Effective

Conventions of Language
 The writer is generally successful in applying the conventions of language.
 Mistakes in sentence formation, usage, or mechanics are present that may interfere with the overall flow of the response, but these errors do not interfere with its meaning.
 The response exhibits a structural pattern of multiple paragraphs with a beginning, middle, and end.

Problem Solving
 This response is generally successful in using important principles of effective composition.
 Though the presentation may be general, the discussion of the problem and solution is reasonably clear.
 The solution discussed is generally related to the problem, and most of the support presented is appropriate and relevant, but the response lacks the depth of support characteristic of the higher score points.
 The argument may be rather loosely organized or may contain digressions in the organizational structure that lessen the effectiveness of the presentation.

Score Point 3: Satisfactory

Conventions of Language
 The writer adequately applies the conventions of language.
 Several mistakes in sentence formation, usage, or mechanics are present that may interfere with the overall flow of the response and with its meaning.
 The response exhibits a structural pattern of multiple paragraphs with elements of a beginning, middle, and end.

Problem Solving
 This response is fairly successful in using important principles of effective composition.
 Though the presentation may remain too general to be convincing, the discussion of the problem and solution is adequate.
 The solution discussed is adequately related to the problem, and most of the support presented is appropriate and relevant.  The argument may progress logically, but the loosely organized presentation results in digressions from the organizational plan or unnecessary redundancies that make the presentation less straightforward and compromise its effect.

Score Point 2: Marginal

Conventions of Language
 The writer is marginally successful in applying the conventions of language.
 Patterns of mistakes in sentence formation, usage, and mechanics significantly detract from the presentation.  At times the meaning of the response may be impaired.

Problem Solving
 The response is marginally successful in using important principles of effective composition.
 The response may not always exhibit a cohesive structural pattern.
 The writer may seem more concerned with self-expression than with presenting a logical argument.
 The problem is discussed and a solution related to the problem may be discussed, though the solution may be either implicit or not clearly stated.
 Support is sketchy and, at times, interrupted with redundancies, digressions, irrelevancies, and/or conditions/qualifications not clearly related to the problem.
 Organization of the argument may be rather haphazard, with a loose structuring of ideas that weakens the effectiveness of the discussion.

Score Point 1: Inadequate

Conventions of Language
 The writer’s achievement in applying the conventions of language is limited.
 Frequent and serious mistakes in sentence formation, usage, and mechanics make the response difficult to understand.

Problem Solving
 The response does not successfully embody important principles of effective composition.
 It is unclear how the discussion of the problem or solution presented relates to the problem stated in the prompt.
 The support is either fragmentary, unconvincing or is a combination of material that does not contribute to the presentation (e.g., contradictions, digression, redundancies, and outright irrelevancies).
 Chaotic organization may make it hard to follow the logic of the presentation.