Purpose – The main idea(s) the author is trying to communicate to readers. 4 = successfully communicates author’s position or purpose and engages the reader in the topic. 3 = somewhat successfully communicates author’s position or purpose and partially engages the reader in the topic. 2 = gives evidence of a position or purpose but argument does not engage the reader. 1= author’s position or purpose is implied or difficult for the reader to discern. Style – Word choice and sentence craft most suitable to author’s purpose and argument, designed for the target audience. 4 = the author’s language is varied, compelling and employed for effect; word choice is precise and appropriate, creating a tone that clearly communicates the writer’s credibility, purpose, and argument. 3 = the author’s language choices are clear and word choice is appropriate, creating a tone that communicates the writer’s credibility, purpose, and argument. 2 = the author’s language choices may be unclear or misaligned with the context created by the author’s purpose and argument, resulting in reader confusion and doubts about the writer’s credibility and/or intentions. 1= the author’s language choices are seriously confusing or misleading to the extent that the reader has serious doubts about the writer’s credibility and/or intentions. Argument -- The well-thought-out use of evidence and perspectives to engage or persuade the reader in ways that serve the author’s purpose. 4 = author engages the reader in a deep conversation about well-thought-out ideas, arguments, evidence, and perspectives. 3= the author engages the reader in a discussion but leaves some gaps in the conversation. 2= the author presents ideas but does not complete the conversation with the reader using evidence and considering multiple perspectives. 1= the author presents ideas but the writing does not show use of evidence and/or differing perspectives. Coherence – The clarity of the argument. 4= the author avoids any unintended ambiguity. 3 = the author lapses into occasional ambiguity -- perhaps pertaining to organization, abrupt transitions, faulty logic, and/or sentence mechanics -- so that the purpose and argument are somewhat unclear. 2 = the author’s expression is hampered by ambiguity -- perhaps pertaining to organization, abrupt transitions, faulty logic, and/or sentence mechanics -- so that the purpose and argument are unclear. 1 = the author’s expression is hampered by such frequent ambiguity that the purpose and argument are opaque.