A: "Excellent"--The paper is well-organized and thoughtful. The paper engages an interesting thesis and supports the thesis with interpreted examples (chosen from texts or from culture). The introduction is comprehensive enough to let the reader know what will be discussed in the paper, but it does not engage the arguments in support of the thesis statement. The argument is persuasive and defensible. The conclusion overviews the points raised in the paper and adds some insight based on the preceding discussion. The paper has few, if any, grammatical or mechanical errors.

B: "Very Good"--The paper is also well-organized and thoughtful, but it may have a number of interpretive problems. The introduction is clear, the argument persuasive, and the conclusion pertinent to the essay, but the three may not match up as well as they might. The paper also lacks the comprehensiveness of an excellent paper. The paper has few, if any, grammatical or mechanical errors.

C: "Okay, But Needs Attention"--The paper addresses the topic of the assignment and has a clear thesis, but suffers from organizational and interpretive problems. The ideas in the paper may be predictable. The paper does not comprehensively address the topic, or it may have difficulty making its arguments with the examples chosen. The paper may have several grammatical or mechanical errors, but these should not interfere substantially with the paper's readability. The paper has an identifiable introduction, argument, and conclusion.

D: "Needs Work"--The paper does not address the topic adequately, either because it has an indefensible thesis, a grave lack of organization, or significant interpretive difficulties. The paper probably has a host of grammatical or mechanical problems. The paper may lack an introduction, persuasive argument, or conclusion (although not all three). In general, the paper does not constitute a complete essay.

F: "Unacceptable"--The paper is an inadequate response to the assignment. It fails to address the topic of the assignment at all, or it lacks any identifiable organization.