Written Communication Toolkit

Criteria sheets

Give students a criteria sheet like the one below to help them understand expected standards in written communication assignments.

HIGH DISTINCTION

Analysis and Conceptual Clarity	Structure and Development	Research Base	Grammar, Spelling, Presentation
All content highly relevant to the topic and covers all key issues. Thorough and clear analysis Demonstrates excellent understanding.	Assignment follows clear, logical sequence. Highly effective use of proportion and emphasis.	Extensive use of relevant research data and theory to support analysis. All sources referenced correctly.	Professional presentation throughout. No grammar or spelling mistakes.

DISTINCTION

Content consistently relevant to the topic and covers most key issues. Clear analysis demonstrates good understanding.

Assignment follows logical sequence. Demonstrates effective use of proportion and emphasis.

Evidence of extensive research. Some use of relevant research data and theory to support analysis. All sources referenced correctly.

Written style clear and effective. Consistent use of standard grammar and punctuation. Good presentation.

CREDIT

Majority of the content relevant to the topic but significant issues not covered. Analysis demonstrates limited understanding.

Structure and plan of assignment apparent but development and emphasis inconsistent.

Some evidence of research. Occasional use of relevant research data and theory to support findings. References mostly correct and in academic style.

Sentence construction generally correct. Some spelling and grammar errors. Written style wordy or repetitive. Acceptable presentation.

PASS

Less than half the content relevant to the topic. Major issues not covered at all. No analysis or demonstrates poor understanding.

Structure and plan only vaguely evident. Proportion and emphasis frequently inappropriate.

Demonstrates very limited research with very limited or no support material presented. No references or largely incorrect.

Frequent problems with sentence construction. Frequent spelling and grammar errors.

FAIL

Not relevant or only vaguely relevant to topic. No analysis.

No evidence of planned structure to the report. Proportion and emphasis consistently inappropriate.

Demonstrates minimal evidence of research. No use of research data or theoretical frameworks to support Critical Evaluation. No references.

Written English so poor as to be barely understandable. Many spelling mistakes. Very poor presentation.

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