Performance Indicators

OUTSTANDING

GOOD

COMPETENT

NEEDS REVISION

CRITICAL LENS

Effectively organizes assertions and analysis around central idea; uses convincing evidence to support the analysis; develops essay coherently and persuasively

Organizes assertions and analysis around a central idea; uses relevant evidence to support the analysis; develops essay coherently

Has central, controlling idea; uses relevant evidence throughout the essay; analyzes rather than summarizes

Summarizes or uses faulty analysis; lacks controlling idea; little or no evidence used

CONNECTIONS

Makes insightful connections between two or more literary works and other issues: historical setting, genre, contemporary concerns

Makes appropriate connections between two or more literary works and other issues: historical setting, genre, contemporary concerns

Makes appropriate connections between two or more literary works

Makes inappropriate or no connections between the texts

LITERARY TECHNIQUE

Demonstrates sophisticated understanding of complex literary techniques (ex: irony, symbolism, and allusion)

Demonstrates understanding of a variety of literary techniques (ex: metaphor and point of view)

Demonstrates understanding of basic literary techniques (ex: theme and character development)

Demonstrates little understanding of literary techniques

STYLE

Uses confident writing style: evidence of distinctive student voice; may use literary techniques (ex: simile and metaphor)

Writing is clear and focused: evidence of student voice emerging

Writing communicates ideas clearly

Writing lacks clarity

CONVENTIONS

"Mechanical" errors are rare or non-existent: follows accepted conventions of quotations and citations

Few mechanical errors: follows accepted conventions of quotations and citations

Some mechanical errors but communication is not impaired; demonstrates knowledge of accepted conventions of quotations and citations

Communication is impaired by mechanical errors; little or no use of conventions of quotations and citations

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT and VALIDATION

Communicates clear message in appropriate, sophisticated, and original way to audience

Presents complex, accurate, substantive information and ideas in an organized way

Communicates clear message in appropriate, original way to audience

Presents accurate, substantive information and ideas in organized way

Communicates clear message in an appropriate way to the audience

Present some substantive, accurate information and ideas in an organized way

Message is unclear to or is inappropriate forthe audience

Does not present accurate or substantive information or ideas not organized

Ms Dudley :: 2008

adapted from http://www.humanitiesprep.org