Engages your reader with an interesting, focused discussion of some aspect of the topic:

• Employs a clear thesis
• Uses specific examples to elaborate on assertions
• Contains examples appropriate to the topic
• Is interesting, offers new ideas on the topic

Demonstrates a knowledge of basic organizational techniques:

• Forecasts organization of paper
• Employs topic sentences to organize paragraphs
• Uses transitions between paragraphs to help reader follow the logic of the argument
• Uses transitional words (a given/new) pattern to develop logical connections between sentences

Attempts to use language in ways that are interesting:

Shows adequate attention to proofing, editing:

• No errors that show spell check wasn't run
• Any errors do not impact the reader's understanding of the work
• Errors are minor and do not interfere with writer's credibility