Article Critique Grading

A 70- to 80-Point Critique (3.5-4.0, A Range)

• Has a substantive thesis and critique fully evaluates selected elements of the article; the thesis is defendable, clearly explained, and supported in the body of the critique
• Shows nuanced comprehension of the article’s thesis and primary claims; the writer’s assessment of the article displays substantial depth, fullness and complexity of thought
• Expresses ideas clearly and commands the reader’s attention
• Demonstrates clear, unified and coherent organization
• Is fully developed and detailed, with assessment of article’s strengths and weaknesses supported by persuasive reasoning and references to the article and/or film under analysis; there is an appropriate balance between providing evidence and analyzing that evidence
• Has a sophisticated style (remarkable variety of sentence pattern, smooth transitions between ideas, superior control of diction)
• Properly cites source material
• Has few, if any, minor errors in grammar, usage or mechanics

A 50- to 69-Point Critique (2.5-3.4, B Range)

• Has a clear thesis and essay analyzes selected elements of the article but may not do so completely; the thesis may be clear and well-argued, but could use additional support or development; or the essay may address more aspects of the article than it can adequately discuss
• Shows sufficient comprehension of the article’s thesis and primary claims; the writer’s assessment of the article displays some depth and complexity of thought
• Expresses ideas clearly
• Demonstrates effective organization
• Is well developed, with assessment of article’s strengths and weaknesses supported by sensible reasoning and appropriate references to the article and/or film under analysis; however, some evidence may detract from the analysis and some ideas might not be fully explored.
• Demonstrates balance between evidence and analysis for the most part, but balance may be weak in places
• Has an effective style (some variety of sentence patterns, transitions between ideas, accurate diction)
• Properly cites source material, but may have errors in citation format
• Has few errors in grammar, usage or mechanics

A 30- to 49-Point Critique (1.5-2.4, C Range)

• Has a thesis that may not be entirely clear and essay does not adequately assess each selected element of the article; essay may list many strengths or weaknesses, but analyze few
• Shows insufficient comprehension of the article’s thesis or little awareness of its complexity; may treat the article simplistically or repetitively
• Communicates ideas clearly for the most part, but may have some lapses in clarity
• Has a recognizable organizational pattern, but the relation among parts is not consistently clear enough to provide a coherent focus
• Is unevenly developed; writer may offer sufficient reasoning or references to the article and/or film under study to support some assessments of strengths or weaknesses, but not others
• Demonstrates some balance between evidence and analysis
• Has an adequate style (limited variation in sentence patterns, transitions between most ideas, diction accurate for the most part)
• Cites the majority of source material, but occasionally material may be clearly cited but not referenced in parentheses
• Has some errors in grammar, usage or mechanics, but demonstrates basic control of these areas

A 14- to 29-Point Critique (.7-1.4, D Range)

• Has an unclear thesis or thesis undistinguishable from the article author’s; essay describes the article and meets basic length requirements, but does not evaluate the article in any meaningful fashion
• Lacks focus or demonstrates confused or simplistic thinking; writer may demonstrate no overall conception of article’s thesis and primary claims
• May not communicate ideas clearly
• Is ineffectively organized, with no clear relationship between the parts of the essay
• May not provide adequate or appropriate reasoning or article/film references to support assessment of strengths and weaknesses, or may provide details without connecting them to an assessment of strengths or weaknesses
• Demonstrates little relationship between assessment and evidence
• Has stylistic weaknesses (no variety of sentence patterns, few transitions, imprecise diction)
• Indicates use of source material, but does not have consistent parenthetical references
• Has occasional major errors in grammar, usage or mechanics or frequent minor errors that interfere in the reader's understanding of the essay

A 0- to 13-Point Critique (0-.6, F Range)

• Has no thesis or has an incomprehensible thesis
• May be deliberately off-topic and demonstrate no understanding of the article
• Does not communicate ideas clearly
• Lacks coherent organization
• Shows no development of ideas; may simply summarize the article or paraphrase a section of it
• Has an incoherent style (difficulties with sentence structure, pattern of diction errors)
• Presents another writer’s work as the author’s own
• Has pervasive pattern of errors in grammar, usage and mechanics that renders the essay unreadable