Rating Scale for Academic Essays
When you examine a piece of writing, consider these main aspects:
1. The strength of your argument and support;
2. The organization of your ideas; and
3. Your use of accurate and precise vocabulary and grammatical structures to communicate your ideas.
Level
Descriptor
5.0 and
higher
Very Good
to Fully
Proficient
Writer
•
•
•
•
4.5
Competent
Writer
•
•
•
•
4
Modest
writer
•
•
•
•
Argument and Support: You have clearly expressed your main points in the argument and you have
supported them very well with multiple reasons. The reader will almost definitely be convinced by
your arguments.
Organization: Your ideas are all connected logically, and you have linked all the sentences and
paragraphs clearly. People never need to re-read the text to understand it and follow your thinking.
Vocabulary: You have used a wide range of advanced vocabulary and expressions accurately and
appropriately. You are also creative: you avoid cliché and ready-made language.
Language structures: You have used a wide range of advanced and simple structures; errors are very
rare and minor. Readers always understand what you mean.
Argument and Support: You have clear ideas and support. You will probably convince the reader of
your arguments.
Organization: Your ideas are well-organized and easy to follow; linking devices clearly join the
sentences and paragraphs; the reader needs very little extra effort to understand your point.
Vocabulary: You have used variety in your vocabulary and expressions; your word choices and word
forms are usually accurate and appropriate, with some creativity. There is almost no cliché or readymade language.
Language structures: You have used advanced and simple grammatical structures accurately. You
might have a few small errors, but the reader always understands you.
Argument and Support: Your main ideas are usually clear and have support, but the reader
sometimes needs extra effort to understand your point. The reader might be convinced by your
argument.
Organization: Your ideas are pretty easy to follow, but the reader might need to re-read sections one
or twice. You might have over-used or misused some basic linking devices (Finally, therefore, etc.),
which cause the reader to re-read a sentence or two to make sure they understand.
Vocabulary: Your word choices and word forms (e.g. nouns or adjectives) are usually accurate but
not very original or with much variety; you may have relied too much on the words in the question or
on some clichés or ready-made structures.
Language structures: You use simple grammatical structures well; You try some more advanced
structures; sometimes they are right but sometimes they are not, and this can cause small
misunderstandings
3.5
Somewhat
limited
writer
•
•
•
•
Argument and Support: Some of your main idea are clear, but maybe one or two are not clear or
relevant to the topic. Some ideas have support, but others have no support or weak support. The
reader might not be convinced by the argument.
Organization: It is often not easy to follow you in the text because the relationship between ideas is
not so clear; maybe you used the wrong linking devices. Readers need to re-read sometimes to
double-check meaning.
Vocabulary: You used a limited range of vocabulary, not enough for the task or for professional
academic writing; you have used some words incorrectly or used ready-made structures instead of
original writing.
Language structures: Most of your sentences have simple structures; when you try advanced
structures they often have errors, which make it difficult for the reader to understand your meaning.
3
•
Limited
writer
•
•
•
2.5 and
lower
Very to
Extremely
Limited
Writer
•
•
•
•
Argument and Support: Some of your main ideas are clear and some are not. Your support might
not be strong or relevant, or might repeat. The reader will probably not be convinced by your
argument.
Organization: Your essay is a little hard to follow; the links between ideas is unclear or ineffective
most of the time; it is difficult to understand what you mean on the first reading. Linking devices are
not there, or are often not helpful for the reader to follow your thinking.
Vocabulary: Your range of vocabulary is quite limited, not enough to communicate abstract ideas.
There are many errors in your word choice and word forms and lots of ready-made expressions. There
is very little original writing from you.
Language structures: There are frequent grammatical errors even in simple structures; for instance,
you have used parts of the sentence (e.g. subject, verb, object) in the wrong place and many verb
forms are incorrect. There are not any advanced structures, and the reader often gets lost.
Argument and Support: It is difficult for the reader to understand your ideas. Support is mostly not
there or is not strong enough for an academic essay. The reader will not be convinced by your
argument and in fact might not know what your argument is at all.
Organization You have not organized the essay appropriately for the task; the essay may have
paragraphs on the page but these paragraphs are not organized by connected ideas and appropriate
linking language. It is quite difficult to understand your meaning on the first reading.
Vocabulary: The range of vocabulary you have used is too limited to express even simple ideas; you
have repetitively used some basic words and when you try original writing instead of copying, many
word forms are incorrect.
Language structures: The reader will notice grammar mistakes in almost every sentence, with
missing parts (e.g. subject, object, or verb) or parts in the wrong place. Most of your verbs are used
incorrectly. The reader does not understand your message.
• By cliché language and ready-made expressions, we mean expressions that are so vague they don’t
really mean anything, or they are so overused the reader is annoyed by them. Here are some examples:
(In an introduction) ____________is very important in life.
(In an introduction) In today’s modern world…
(For the last reason) Last but not least,
(In a concluding sentence) Having considered all these reasons,
• Here are some examples of vocabulary and grammar errors. However, remember that it is not only the
type of error but the number of errors that puts an essay in a certain level as well as the quality of the
ideas and the organisation.
4.5 and higher: Many people like to travel in different countries. (to different countries)
We could cure cancer in near future. (the near future)
4: Winter is in December to February. (from December to February)
We need to fight towards drug problems. (fight against drug problems—towards means you want the problems!)
3.5: We need more than 20 days to explore as possible many cities in Japan. (to explore as many cities as
possible)
I want to go past and change my decision. (go back in time to change my decision or go back to the past)
I would spend my time on vacation to read books. (spend my time reading books)
3: I would like to experience this trip in my comfortable time for valuable reasons. (meaning not clear)
Party was the end and last time of our togetherness. (The last time we were all together)
The main reason I preferred summer is I like the beach. (I prefer)
2.5 and lower: Travelling is a explore many place exotiques. (Travelling allows us to explore many exotic
places)
One reason I choose yoga is to obtain peace of mind would refresh my thoughts. (meaning not clear)
Parties in my city fun. Furthermore, parties which is organised by local city officials. (Meaning not clear but
maybe: Fun parties are organised in my city by local officials)
He would enjoys to spent time to China (He would enjoy spending time in China)
• Here is an example of a sentence from three different introductions, all answering the same question.
Notice the difference in language and word choice, which mean ideas are more or less complex or
precise.
High: I would love to go back in time and revisit my hometown. I cherish that time dearly, as I had a chance to
make lifetime friends.
Medium: In this essay, I will explain my dream place of the past, which is Mexico in last year.
Low: I would like to explain why I am like to go specific Beijing City. It is the best place to spend happy time.
Internet in Education
Edward Yue
300037744
“Paper is no longer a big part of my day. I get 90% of my news online, and when I go to a
meeting and want to jot things down, I bring my Tablet PC. It [i]s fully synchronized with my
office machine so I have all the files I need.”
– Bill Gates
The internet has become the most crucial part of our life. The internet designed for
communication at the beginning; after decades, the internet involves in several areas. The most
significant effect is that it has improved the way we learn. Although the internet carried some
negative influences, it changed the way we participate in classrooms, and it also launched a new
way to study, online learning. After all, the internet plays an essential role in education.
Figure 1. Medieval University Classroom, Voltolina(1350)
In an educational setting, teaching styles and learning styles have changed as a result of
the invention of the internet. Laurentius de Voltolina’s illustration(Figure 1) represented a
college lecture in medieval Italy in the 14th century. The classroom is similar to the modern day
classroom: students are sitting in rows and listening while the teacher instructs from the front of
the room, some of the students have books opened in front of them, likely to be participation the
lecture. Still, a small number of students seem to lose their interests, partial of them are talking to
their neighbor, and one of them seems to be snoozing. Also, in the 14th century, in Laurentius de
Voltolina’s painting(Figure 1), the conventional classroom, teacher was the principal source of
knowledge, for the teacher has become “sage on the stage” for a long time. There is a small
change in today’s classroom that is they do not look at books. Instead, students are looking at
their computers, laptops ,or mobiles. (Surely some of them might be chatting on social
networks). The internet has changed the teacher's role and the student's role. Although, the
student able to obtain the erudition they need from the internet, thanks to the invention of the
internet. In this case, students are more likely to be responsible for their self-study using online
resources to achieve their goals. A modern teacher is inclined to be a study guide who helps
students attempt in the learning process, and implementing guidelines and pathways to them.
According to my personal experience, most classrooms have at least one resident computer used
for teaching, and some of the computer labs even allow students and teachers looking at one
resource on every computer at the same time. Students and teachers have changed the way they
take participating in the classroom on the internet.
There is another way they participate — online education. Most people use online
technologies during their daily lives, shopping, working, or communicating with friends. Those
online sources have also make educational systems changed. The online school is always useable
for many people, including the elderly, adits, children, student, worker, those who do not have a
chance to study at school. Schools might have limited space that makes school can not enroll too
many students. However, online teaching has saved this problem. There will be no area
restriction on education; people can study at any time they want as long as they join the internet.
Therefore, online teaching has set up multiple approaches in education. Firstly, the internet
conducive to the realization of quality education resources sharing. All the education resources,
as a kind of information resource, can be used by researchers immeasurable times. Besides, some
of those top universities have accumulated tonnes of instructional resources; those can share with
educates through the internet, makes most of the people can easily access resources. Secondly,
according to The Evolution and History of eLearning(n.d), online teaching conducive to the lowcost expansion of education: the word “Elearning”, used at a CBT systems seminar, was started
in 1999. In this way, there are other words like “online learning” and “virtual learning” also start
to extensive diffuse. Also, there is a reason why is most educates prefer “elearning”; the cost of
university tuition is soaring. Physical learning materials are too expensive for students. Online
learning reduced transportation education cost in many ways, for instance, most of the class
materials are available online which are also cheaper than physical resources; transportation
costs, parking fees, tolls, fuel can also significantly dropped. Thirdly, online education conducive
to the cultivation of compound talents. “Elearning” would help people who have complete one
degree to take another non-academic degree while working. Hence, they can have the leisure to
study another degree online to improve their many personal quality and education attainment
level. Even “elearning” improved students’ study efficiency with less cost than transportation
education, and the internet has a negative magnetizing effect on young people.
While there have been many positive outcomes, the internet has also fascinated students,
which make them cannot be concentrate on their studies. Jenkin (2015) mentioned that:
The OECD’s education director, Andreas Schleicher says: “If you look at the best-performing education
systems, such as those in East Asia, they’ve been very cautious about using technology in their classroom.”
Also, he adds, “Those students who use tablets and computers very often tend to do worse than those who
use them moderately…”(Jenkin, 2015)
The internet is a “double-edged sword” for education; students benefit from it, also has many
adverse impacts on students. Because the internet includes knowledge of the whole world,
students can reach any information they need, such as movies, music or their homework answers
so that they do not need to put too many effects to attain their purposes. Therefore, many
students can not solve academic problems by themselves, and they prefer to search the answer
online instead of figure out those problems on their own, they also can not manage their time
correctly. Additionally, online information about students’ homework answer is deadly tempts
them that lead to plagiarism and academic fraud. Lynch(2019) writes:
Educators have taken steps to counter such practices.g. They have developed sites that check essays and
research papers against published content to detect pilfered material. Determined students may attempt to
circumvent such safeguards by using social media and message boards to share class information. (Lynch,
2019)
Even educators wrestle with problems like plagiarism and cheating. Some students still recommit
the same error. Furthermore, students spend hours playing online games and cooperate on social
networks as Facebook or Instagram can be harmful to their physical development.
Without a doubt, the internet has changed the way human educate. The educate can study
in many ways instead of participating in the school, obtaining information online by searching on
the internet, and taking online courses. However, the internet also distracted students’ attention,
and the long time of using the internet is deleterious to the user. Can you imagine what would
happen if one day you can not access the internet and you have to go to the school and library to
gain erudition?
References
Bill Gates Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved May 30, 2019, from BrainyQuote.com
Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/bill_gates_626188
Dunwill, E. (2017, August 03). 4 Changes That Will Shape The Classroom Of The Future:
Making Education Fully Technological. Retrieved from:
https://elearningindustry.com/4-changes-will-shape-classroom-of-the-future-makingeducation-fully-technological
Jenkin, M. (2015, December 02). Tablets out, imagination in: The schools that shun technology.
Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/dec/02/schools-thatban-tablets-traditional-education-silicon-valley-london
Kumari, S. (1998). Teaching with the internet. Journal of Information Technology for Teacher
Education,7(3), 363-377. doi:10.1080/14759399800200046
Lynch, W. (2019, January 10). Negative Effects of Internet in Education. Retrieved
from https://itstillworks.com/negative-effects-internet-education-2002.html
The Evolution and History of eLearning. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.talentlms.com/elearning/history-of-elearning
Piletic, P. (2018, September 19). Lower Costs Are Making More Students Prefer Online
Education. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/students-prefer-onlineeducation-lower-costs-making
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