| Content and language are assessed separately. |
Content & Structure
Introduction:
- Poor/no introduction to the topic (hooking techniques) – 5-7%
- Thesis statement not covering the topic /poorly articulated or not given – 7-12%
Main Body
Ideas
- Ideas poorly / do not develop the thesis statement – 5-7% each case
- Ideas not clearly stated – 5% each case
- Repetition of ideas – 5% each case
- No paragraph presenting an opposing viewpoint – 10%
Paragraph structure
- Poorly articulated/no topic sentence – 5-7% each case
- Topic sentence not developed by supporting ideas (no elaboration) – 7% each case
- No evidence (facts) illustrating ideas – 5% each case
Conclusion
- No restatement of the thesis – 10%
- No clear sum-up – 5%
- New idea(s) introduced – 5%
Coherence & cohesion
- Faulty logic (hasty conclusions, logical gaps, circular arguments, etc.) – 5% each case
- Inappropriate connectives; insufficient cohesion; no cohesion within/between para. – 4-7%
Length: 300-350 words without the title (5% max)
NB An essay is deemed unsatisfactory if its content does not correspond to the title or the essay is the wrong type.
| Language | Grading Scale | ||
| Mistake | Penalty | Grades | Numerical scale |
| Sp (spelling) | 1% | A | 100 – 90% |
| P (punctuation) | 1% | B | 89 – 82% |
| Art (article) | 2% | C | 81 – 75% |
| Prep (preposition) | 2% | D | 74 – 67% |
| Ww (wrong word) | 3-5% | E | 66 – 60% |
| Gr (grammar) | 3-5% | F | < 60% |
| St (style) | 3% | ||
| S (sense) | 5% | ||
| Primitive language (simple sentences, no complex structures, no new vocabulary) | 10% |