Assessment

Paragraph rubric based on the MEAL Plan: Main idea (topic sentence),Evidence (details/examples), Analyze (synthesize, compare and contrast, etc.), and Link to some other part of the paragraph)

Category	Three points	Two points	One point	No points
Main idea	Main idea and language (form, meaning, and use) are strong, clear, and relate to the rest of the paragraph.	Main idea and language (form, meaning, and use) are adequate.	Main idea is off-topic and/or language (form, meaning, and use) is weak.	Main idea (topic sentence) is absent.
Evidence	There is strong evidence (i.e., details/examples) to support the topic sentence.	There is adequate evidence (i.e., details/examples) to support the topic sentence.	There is weak evidence (i.e., details/examples) to support the topic sentence.	There is no evidence to support (i.e., details/examples) the topic sentence.
Analyze	Paragraph includes a strong analysis that relates to topic sentence.	Paragraph includes an adequate analysis that relates to topic sentence.	Paragraph includes a weak analysis that relates to topic sentence.	Paragraph does not include an analysis that relates to topic sentence.
Link	Paragraph includes a strong link, summary, or closing.	Paragraph includes an adequate link, summary, or closing.	Paragraph includes a weak link, summary, or closing.	Paragraph includes a absent link, summary, or closing.

MEAL Plan Rubric (for paragraphs)