WHAT DOES A TWE SCORE INDICATE?

6 Demonstrates clear competence in writing on both the rhetorical and syntactic levels, though it may have occasional errors. A paper in this category

effectively addresses the writing task

is well organized and well developed

uses clearly appropriate details to support a thesis or illustrate ideas

displays consistent facility in the use of language

demonstrates syntactic variety and appropriate word choice

5 Demonstrates competence in writing on both the rhetorical and syntactic levels, though it will probably have occasional errors. A paper in this category

may address some parts of the task more effectively than others

is generally well organized and developed

uses details to support a thesis or illustrate an idea

displays facility in the use of language

demonstrates some syntactic variety and range of vocabulary

4 Demonstrates minimal competence in writing on both the rhetorical and syntactic levels.

A paper in this category

addresses the writing topic adequately but may slight parts of the task

is adequately organized and developed

uses some details to support a thesis or illustrate an idea

demonstrates adequate but possibly inconsistent facility with syntax and usage

may contain some errors that occasionally obscure meaning

3 Demonstrates some developing competence in writing, but it remains flawed on either the rhetorical or syntactic level, or both. A paper in this category may reveal one or more of the following weaknesses:

inadequate organization or development

inappropriate or insufficient details to support or illustrate generalizations

a noticeably inappropriate choice of words or word forms

an accumulation of errors in sentence structure and/or usage

2 Suggests incompetence in writing.

A paper in this category is seriously flawed by one or more of the following weaknesses:

serious disorganization or underdevelopment

little or no detail, or irrelevant specifics

serious and frequent errors in sentence structure or usage

serious problems with focus

1 Demonstrates incompetence in writing.

A paper in this category

may be incoherent

may be undeveloped

may contain severe and persistent writing errors