| CATEGORY | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Organization | Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings. | Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs. | Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed. | The information appears to be disorganized. 8) |
| Amount of Information | All topics are addressed and all questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each. | All topics are addressed and most questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each. | All topics are addressed, and most questions answered with 1 sentence about each. | One or more topics were not addressed. |
| Mechanics | No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. | Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors | A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors. | Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. |
| Quality of Information | Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples. | Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples. | Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given. | Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic. |
| Internet Use | Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. | Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. | Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. | Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites. |
| Formatting | *Five paragraph essay with introduction paragraph with a clear thesis statement, three supporting paragraphs, and a logical summarizing conclusion paragraph. * each paragraph has at least 3 sentences. * there are logical transitions from paragraph to paragraph. | Essay has 2 of the three requirements listed in the first category. | Essay has 1 of the three requirements listed in the first category. | Essay does not meet formatting standards in any area. |