Grading Standards for Objection-Reply Style Essays

	5	6	7+
Motive & Thesis	The essay’s title and opening seem to bear on a genuine question, puzzle, or problem. The essay can be read as having a thesis. For an objection-reply style essay, the thesis is usually an objection (or a reply to an objection) to an existing answer, solution, or response to the essay’s motivating issue.	The essay’s title and opening together establish a genuine question, puzzle, or problem. This issue is clearly presented. The essay then clearly states its thesis. For an objection-reply style essay, the thesis is usually an objection (or a reply to an objection) to an existing answer, solution, or response to the essay’s motivating issue.	The essay’s title and opening together establish and address a genuine question, puzzle, or problem. This issue is not only clearly presented but thoughtfully motivated in a compelling, well-focused way which genuinely captures the reader’s interest. The essay then clearly states its thesis. For an objection-reply style essay, the thesis is usually an objection (or a reply to an objection) to an existing answer, solution, or response to the essay’s motivating issue. The essay’s thesis is both arguable (i.e., not obviously true/false) and insightful (e.g., building on but extending beyond class discussions).
Key Terms & Concepts	The essay establishes some key terms and concepts.	The essay clearly establishes the most relevant key terms and concepts.	The essay clearly establishes, carefully explains, and consistently employs suitable key terms and concepts, with reference to the text where appropriate; when a key term or concept is abstract, complex, or otherwise difficult, the essay thoughtfully illustrates it with an example, analogy, diagram, or some other heuristic device. The essay introduces jargon only when and only to the extent helpful to the reader.
Textual Evidence & Exposition	The essay draws evidence from the text to support its reading of the view, argument, or idea discussed. These sources are cited properly. The essay does not merely report that an interlocutor holds a certain view but makes an attempt to explain the reason on the basis of which the interlocutor contends such a view is true. The essay’s exposition could plausibly be supported by textual evidence.	The essay consistently draws evidence from the text to support its reading of the view, argument, or idea discussed. These sources are cited properly using a consistent style (e.g., Chicago Author-Date). The essay does not merely report that an interlocutor holds a certain view but clearly explains the reason on the basis of which the interlocutor contends such a view is true. The essay’s exposition is supported by the textual evidence cited.	The essay consistently draws relevant evidence from the text to support its reading of the view, argument, or idea discussed. These sources are properly cited using a consistent style (e.g., Chicago Author-Date) and smoothly incorporated into the prose mainly in the form of paraphrases. The few direct quotes, if used, are well-chosen, focused, idiomatic, and explicitly interpreted rather than left to the reader to interpret on their own. The essay does not merely report that an interlocutor holds a certain view but clearly and thoughtfully explains the reason on the basis of which the interlocutor contends such a view is true. The essay’s exposition is well-supported by a careful, critical, charitable reading of the textual evidence cited. Where appropriate, the essay clearly tells the reader how its exposition is so supported.
Argument	The essay can be interpreted as offering some objection to an argument or some reply to an objection.	The essay clearly presents an objection to an argument or a reply to an objection. The essay’s own claims are not merely asserted but often argued for. The essay displays some awareness of and engages with some countervailing considerations, alternative positions, or further plausible worries or objections.	The essay carefully develops a compelling, insightful objection to an argument or a reply to an objection. The essay’s own claims are not merely asserted but well–argued for. Where appropriate, the essay clearly tells the reader how its claims are supported by the arguments. The essay displays a sophisticated awareness of and, where appropriate, engages with countervailing considerations, alternative positions, or further plausible worries or objections.
Structure & Organization	The essay and its sections are titled. Different components of the essay are identifiable. Individual paragraphs are largely internally coherent. The essay can be read as following a more or less coherent internal logic.	The essay and its sections are appropriately titled to indicate the main content and structure of the essay. Different components of the essay are clearly identifiable. Each paragraph is internally coherent and makes a single point. The essay follows a coherent, sensible internal logic and employs signposting language at major points of transition.	The essay and its sections are thoughtfully titled to indicate the main content and structure of the essay in a way helpful and interesting to the reader. Different components of the essay are clearly identified. Each paragraph is internally coherent, makes a single point, serves its own unique, useful purpose, and builds on each other progressively. The essay consciously develops its own fitting, overarching line of thought in response to its motivating issue and employs signposting language thoughtfully where appropriate and helpful to the reader.
Style & Conventions	The essay is composed in largely clear prose. The essay demonstrates a largely proficient command of conventional syntax, usage, spelling, and punctuation, as well as scholarly and philosophical conventions on diction, voice, tone, format, and citation style.	The essay is largely free of obscurities and develops a more or less distinct voice. The essay demonstrates a proficient command of conventional syntax, usage, spelling, and punctuation, as well as scholarly and philosophical conventions on diction, voice, tone, format, and citation style.	The essay is composed in lucid, well-chosen, engaging, and polished prose with negligible obscurities and sustains a unique, interesting voice. The essay demonstrates a smooth and skillful command of—and where appropriate and useful, may sometimes deliberately break away from—conventional syntax, usage, spelling, and punctuation, as well as scholarly and philosophical conventions on diction, voice, tone, format, and citation style.
Research (if relevant)	If it is a research paper, the essay mentions some external sources.	If it is a research paper, the essay engages some relevant literature and makes an attempt to situate itself in relation to it.	If it is a research paper, the essay selectively engages and thoughtfully critiques existing scholarship in an effort to fill some gap, resolve some problem, or otherwise make some contribution of its own.