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Persuasive Essay Rubric (Grade 5)
This rubric fits a four- or five-paragraph opinion essay in grade 5. It assumes students have been taught to state an opinion, give reasons with examples, and close by asking the reader to do something. The wording is simple enough to hand to students as a checklist before they turn the essay in.
- Grades 5
- Subject ELA
- 100 points
- 5 criteria
- Free to copy, print and adapt
| Criterion | Exceeds | Meets | Approaching | Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opinion Statement20 points | 18-20 ptsOne sentence in the first paragraph states the opinion and names who or what should change, and the conclusion states that same opinion in new words without contradicting it. | 15-17 ptsThe introduction states the opinion in a full sentence, and the rest of the essay argues for that opinion and not a different one. | 10-14 ptsThe opinion shows up somewhere in the essay but not in the introduction, or it is written as a question or as a fact such as "Recess is twenty minutes long." | 0-9 ptsNo sentence in the essay says what the writer wants the reader to think or do. |
| Reasons and Evidence30 points | 27-30 ptsGives three or more separate reasons, and each reason is followed by a specific example, number, or quotation from a source or from the writer's own experience; no reason is the opinion said again. | 21-26 ptsGives at least three reasons, and at least two of them are backed by a specific example rather than a general statement. | 15-20 ptsGives two or three reasons but supports them with general statements such as "everyone knows" or "it would be more fun," or repeats one reason in different words. | 0-14 ptsGives one reason, or lists opinions with no examples anywhere in the essay. |
| Answering the Other Side15 points | 14-15 ptsNames in a full sentence one thing a person who disagrees would actually say, states it fairly, and then answers it with a reason or example. | 11-13 ptsNames something a person who disagrees might say and gives at least one sentence answering it. | 8-10 ptsSays that "some people disagree" without saying what they think, or names the objection and then moves on without answering it. | 0-7 ptsThe essay never mentions that anyone could see the topic differently. |
| Organization and Linking Words20 points | 18-20 ptsEach body paragraph covers one reason and opens with a linking phrase that shows its job, such as "One reason" or "On the other hand," and the conclusion asks the reader to do one specific thing. | 15-17 ptsHas an introduction, a separate paragraph for each reason, and a conclusion, with linking words between paragraphs. | 10-14 ptsThe reasons are all there, but two or more share a paragraph, or the same word such as "also" opens most paragraphs. | 0-9 ptsThe essay is one paragraph, or it stops after the last reason with no conclusion. |
| Word Choice and Conventions15 points | 14-15 ptsUses words that carry the argument, such as "should," "unfair," or "safer," instead of opening every sentence with "I think," and fewer than three capital, punctuation, or spelling errors appear. | 11-13 ptsSentences are complete and end-punctuated, errors never make a sentence hard to understand, and at least two word choices are specific, such as "wasteful" or "crowded." | 8-10 pts"I think" or "stuff" and "things" repeat throughout, or run-on sentences make the reader go back and reread. | 0-7 ptsCapitals and end punctuation are missing throughout, or the wording is so general that the reader cannot tell what is being argued for. |
Total: 100 points across 5 criteria.
How to use it
- Reasons and Evidence carries 30 points because that is where fifth graders lose the most ground. Tell students that number before they draft.
- Answering the Other Side is often brand new in grade 5. If you have not taught it yet, cut that row and add its 15 points to Reasons and Evidence.
- Score the opinion statement first. If that sentence is missing, the rest of the essay rarely rises above Approaching, and scoring it first saves you a second read.
- Students can self-check with this rubric: have them highlight the opinion sentence in one color and each piece of evidence in another before they hand it in.
What students most often get wrong
- Naming a topic, such as "school lunches," instead of stating an opinion, such as "School lunches should include a vegetarian choice."
- Repeating the same reason three times in different words and counting it as three reasons.
- Using "everyone knows" or "it is just better" as the evidence for a reason.
Grade with this rubric, without retyping it
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