Mechanics

Sometimes known as "conventions," these are the skills that most people think of when you mention "English class:"  grammar, capitalization, punctuation, usage, spelling, paragraphing.

Strong Paper (5)

• Paragraphs tend to be "correct" and reinforce the organization

• Grammar and usage are correct and contribute to clarity

• Punctuation is smooth and guides the reader through the piece

• Spelling is generally correct

• The writer may manipulate mechanics for stylistic purposes

• The writing is long enough and complex enough to show skill in using a range of conventions

Developing Paper (3)

• Spelling is usually correct (or phonetic) on common words

• End-of-sentence punctuation is almost always correct; commas, apostrophes and semi-colons may be incorrect or missing

• Grammar and usage problems are not serious enough to distract from meaning

• Paragraphs are attempted, but sometimes run together or begin in the wrong places

• Light editing has been attempted

Weak Paper (1)

• The reader must read once to decode and again for meaning

• Spelling errors are frequent, even on common words

• Even end-of-sentence punctuation is often missing or incorrect

• Paragraphing is either missing or so frequent that it does not relate to the writing

• Grammar and usage errors are noticeable and may affect meaning