CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW RUBRIC

Name: ___________________________________ Date: __________________ Paper: _______________________________________

ORGANIZATION CRITICAL ANALYSIS ELEMENTS GRAMMAR/MECHANICS 25 pts per

section

Excellent

– Clear thesis statement that outlines a critical

position on one or more aspects of the book;

body explains criteria for critical review;

specific points are supported with clear and

strong details/examples; strong summation of

analyst’s critical impression

– Appropriate paragraphing

– Clear and appropriate transitions

– Appropriate length to cover topic

– Clearly and coherently focused (including a good sense of

audience)

– Thoughts clearly organized

– Logical and clear progression

– Assertions clearly supported/illustrated

– Depth of critical analysis and thought clearly evident

– Correct sentence structure

– Correct spelling

– Correct punctuation

– Correct capitalization

– Correct word choices

– Correct use of quotations (APA)

20 pts per

section

High

– Generally clear thesis statement that outlines

a critical position on one or more aspects of

the book; body generally explains criteria for

critical review; specific points are generally

supported with details/examples; appropriate

conclusion

– Generally appropriate paragraphing

– Generally clear and appropriate transitions

– Appropriate length to cover topic

– Clearly and cohesively focused with sufficient sense of

audience

– Thoughts generally organized

– Assertions generally supported/illustrated

– Generally shows critical analysis and thought

– Generally free of errors in sentence structure

spelling

punctuation

capitalization

– Generally correct word choices

– Generally correct use of quotations (APA)

18 pts per

section

Adequate

– Adequate thesis statement that outlines a

critical position on one or more aspects of the

book; body adequately explains criteria for

critical review; specific points are somewhat

supported with details/examples; adequate

conclusion

– Adequate paragraphing

– Adequate transitions

– Adequate length to cover topic

– Adequately focused (including some sense of audience)

– Thoughts adequately organized and presented

– Critical analysis and thought adequately

supported/illustrated

– Relatively few errors in sentence structure

spelling

punctuation

capitalization

word choice

– Relatively few errors in use of quotations

(APA)

15 pts per

section

Poor

– Weak beginning, development and support

of critical position, and conclusion

– Weak paragraphing

– Weak transitions

– Not adequate in length to cover topic

– Weakly focused (little sense of audience)

– thoughts not clearly organized

– Unclear progression

– Assertions weakly supported and/or illustrated

– Significant errors in sentence structure

spelling/punctuation

capitalization

word choice

– Significant errors in use of quotations (APA)

10 pts per

section

Unacceptable

– Serious and persistent errors in presentation

and support of position, organizational

structure, paragraphing, and transitions

– Does not cover the topic

– Not focused (no sense of audience)

– Unorganized

– Serious and persistent errors in sentence

structure/ spelling/punctuation/

capitalization/word choice

– Few/inappropriate use of quotations (APA)