2. Ability to express thoughts in an organized manner.

• Organizing principles are apparent throughout the writing such as: giving both sides; chronological; CRAC; IRAC; general to specific; least to most; most to least; oppositional.

• Selected organizing principles reflect writer's purpose and the reader's expectations, e.g., most important information is placed in a prominent place.

• The lead or roadmap section orients the reader to the most important, general idea and directs the reader to the one idea that brings all other ideas and details into focus. It shows the writer's destination and helps readers make sense of what follows, e.g., who, what, where, why, and how.

• The conclusion at the writing's end shows the reader that the writer has reached the writer's destination, i.e., done what the writer set out to do.

• Transitions between paragraphs and sentences are coherent. Words and phrases are included that help readers understand how different ideas relate to each other, e.g., exemplify (for example, for instance); affirm (actually, certainly); negate (on the contrary, however); add (moreover, and, also); concede (although, granted that); summarize (finally, thus).

• Paragraphs are in a logical order and of appropriate length.

• Each paragraph is adequately developed with a topic sentence and coherent transitions.

• Formatting such as bullets, subheadings or lists are used to help readers follow the writing's structure.

• Quotations are short, relevant, aptly introduced and anchored in the discussion.

• Footnotes are used primarily for citations and do not distract the reader's train of thought.

• Pictures, graphs, or tables are used to visually represent meaning.