Written Communication Rubric Student Name:
Dimension Unmet =1 Met = 2 Exceeded = 3 Total Score
Purpose
Statement

Vague or inconsistent
statement of purpose

Expresses a clear, coherent
thesis statement

Creative, insightful and/or
skillfully designed thesis
statement

Sense of
Audience

Unfocused or
Inconsistent sense of
audience; language
inappropriate to target
audience

Conveys an accurate sense of
audience with appropriate use
of disciplinary language

Strong sense of audience
demonstrated through
form and language

Organization
and
development

Inadequate
organization and/or
development

Some organization
evident, but inconsistent

Points are logically
developed and flow
logically from one idea to
the next

Research
skills/Drawing of
inferences

No or poor research
done; little inference
made from past work.

Shows evidence of research,
but may be weak research
cited or poor inferences made
from it.

Sound and complete
research done; proper
inferences made from the
result

Critical thinking Does not identify
the problem; surface the
assumptions; or identify
implications and
consequences of the
issue

Identifies the main
problem or implicit aspects of
the problem; recognizes
nuances of the issue; and
discusses implications and
consequences

Identifies and questions the
validity of the key
assumptions and
addresses the ethical
dimensions that
underlie the issue

Support for
ideas

Inappropriate or
insufficient details
to support thesis

Includes some, but not
adequate support for
arguments

Expertly advances
argument with well-
researched evidence

Use of Visual
Aids

No visual aids or poorly
done.

Uses visual aids but not done
well. Possible copyright
issues

Perfect visual aids; no
copyright issues

Use of
Grammar &
Spelling

Multiple errors in
grammar, sentence
structure or spelling

Occasional errors in
grammar, sentence
structure or spelling

Uses correct grammar,
Sentence structure and
Spelling throughout
document

Summary or
Action Plan

No summary or action
plan; action plan not
specific

Summary or action plan
included but could be stronger
or more specific

Strong summary; action
plan is detailed and
meaningful

Followed
directions and
parameters for
assignment

Did not follow the
instructions of the
assignment; parts
missing

Everything in directions done Went well beyond the
directions to further
student’s career objectives