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
analysts 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)
