Judging Rubric

With over 30,000 essays written for the 2008-2009 Being an American Essay Contest, we thought it would be useful to share a rubric by which judges help score essays in the first judging round of the competition. Please note that even though an essay may receive a score of "8" in the first judging round, may not make it to the next round of judging. It is important to submit essays of the highest quality.

*Important Note - This Rubric is intended to be used to help teachers help ensure student submissions are high quality. This rubric does not necessarily represent the final rubric given to judges during the scoring process.

The top essays, scoring 8 or 9, approach the topic with original and lively prose and will fully develop responses including a discussion of at least one Founding document, a historical American figure, and personal response. These essays, while they may have minor errors, contain well-developed theses, outstanding analysis of an appropriate number of biographical sources, and will be very clearly-organized and well written.

Essays scoring 5 through 7 approach the topic in more conventional ways showing less originality than top scoring essays. Responses will be developed but may lack depth in one or more areas. They will include a discussion of at least one Founding document, a historical American figure, and personal response. These essays, while they may have minor errors, have clear theses, acceptable analysis of an appropriate number of biographical sources, and will be clearly-organized and well written.

Essays scoring 3 or 4 will not show originality and contain only general responses. They may not discuss a Founding document, historical figure, and/or a personal response. They essays contain a limited or undeveloped thesis, partial or weak analysis of an appropriate number of biographical sources, and are poorly organized and may contain major errors.

Essays scoring 1 or 2 do not answer the question or address it only tangentially, demonstrating little or no understanding of the topic. They contain no discussion of a Founding document or historical figure. They are poorly organized to the point of inhibiting understanding and may contain major errors.