This document is a rubric for grading argumentative essays. It evaluates students on identifying an issue, stating a claim, citing evidence to support the claim, explaining how the evidence supports the claim, presenting a counterargument, and rebutting the counterargument. Stronger essays clearly identify the issue, state the claim, cite and explain two pieces of evidence, present a counterargument, and rebut it, while weaker essays are missing one or more of these components.