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Overview

The Essay Grader API provides AI-powered feedback and scoring for student essays, papers, and written assignments. It analyzes writing quality, structure, grammar, and content to provide constructive feedback that helps students improve their writing skills.
The Essay Grader is listed as an available tool in the Studley AI platform. While the core endpoint structure follows the tools API pattern, full implementation details may vary.

Grade Essay

POST /api/tools/generate

Submit an essay for AI grading and feedback.
toolType
string
required
Must be set to "essay-grader" for essay grading
input
object
required
The essay submission details
input.essay
string
required
The full text of the essay to be graded
input.prompt
string
The assignment prompt or question (helps AI understand context)
input.rubric
string
Optional grading rubric or specific criteria to evaluate against
input.grade_level
string
Student’s grade level (e.g., “9th”, “college”, “graduate”)
input.subject
string
Subject area (e.g., “English”, “History”, “Science”)
Request Example
{
  "toolType": "essay-grader",
  "input": {
    "essay": "The American Revolution was a pivotal moment in world history. It began in 1775 when tensions between the thirteen American colonies and Great Britain reached a breaking point. The colonists were frustrated with British taxation policies, particularly the Stamp Act and the Tea Act, which they viewed as violations of their rights as English citizens.\n\nThe war lasted eight years and resulted in the formation of the United States of America...",
    "prompt": "Discuss the causes and effects of the American Revolution",
    "rubric": "Grade based on: thesis clarity (25%), evidence and examples (25%), organization (20%), grammar and mechanics (15%), analysis and critical thinking (15%)",
    "grade_level": "11th",
    "subject": "History"
  }
}
Response
success
boolean
Indicates if grading was successful
toolType
string
Returns “essay-grader”
userId
string
The authenticated user’s ID
result
object
The grading results and feedback
result.overall_score
number
Overall score (typically 0-100)
result.grade
string
Letter grade (A, B, C, etc.)
result.feedback
object
Detailed feedback broken down by category
result.feedback.strengths
array
List of strengths identified in the essay
result.feedback.areas_for_improvement
array
List of areas that need improvement
result.feedback.grammar_and_mechanics
object
Specific grammar and writing mechanics feedback
result.feedback.content_analysis
object
Analysis of content quality and depth
result.rubric_scores
object
Scores for each rubric category (if rubric provided)
result.suggestions
array
Specific actionable suggestions for improvement
result.summary
string
Overall summary of the essay’s quality
Response Example
{
  "success": true,
  "toolType": "essay-grader",
  "userId": "user_abc123",
  "result": {
    "overall_score": 85,
    "grade": "B+",
    "feedback": {
      "strengths": [
        "Clear thesis statement that addresses the prompt",
        "Good use of specific historical examples",
        "Logical organization with clear topic sentences",
        "Strong conclusion that ties ideas together"
      ],
      "areas_for_improvement": [
        "Could benefit from more analysis of the long-term effects",
        "Some transitions between paragraphs could be smoother",
        "A few minor grammar issues (see details below)"
      ],
      "grammar_and_mechanics": {
        "score": 13,
        "max_score": 15,
        "issues": [
          "Line 3: 'were frustrated' - consider more varied verb choice",
          "Line 12: Missing comma after introductory phrase"
        ]
      },
      "content_analysis": {
        "thesis_clarity": {
          "score": 22,
          "max_score": 25,
          "comment": "Strong thesis that directly addresses the prompt. Could be more specific about which effects you'll discuss."
        },
        "evidence_and_examples": {
          "score": 23,
          "max_score": 25,
          "comment": "Excellent use of specific acts and events. More primary source references would strengthen the argument."
        },
        "organization": {
          "score": 18,
          "max_score": 20,
          "comment": "Well-organized with clear structure. Topic sentences effectively introduce each paragraph's main idea."
        },
        "analysis_and_critical_thinking": {
          "score": 12,
          "max_score": 15,
          "comment": "Good analysis of causes. Effects section would benefit from deeper exploration of economic and social impacts."
        }
      }
    },
    "rubric_scores": {
      "thesis_clarity": 22,
      "evidence_and_examples": 23,
      "organization": 18,
      "grammar_and_mechanics": 13,
      "analysis_and_critical_thinking": 12
    },
    "suggestions": [
      "Expand the effects section to include more about economic impacts on both Britain and America",
      "Consider adding a paragraph about the global influence of the American Revolution",
      "Review comma usage after introductory phrases",
      "Include at least one primary source quotation to strengthen your argument"
    ],
    "summary": "This is a well-written essay that demonstrates solid understanding of the American Revolution. Your thesis is clear and your use of historical examples is strong. To move from a B+ to an A, focus on deepening your analysis of the revolution's effects and incorporating more primary source evidence. Your writing mechanics are generally good, with just a few minor issues to address."
  }
}

Quick Grade

POST /api/tools/generate

Get a quick assessment without detailed rubric scoring.
toolType
string
required
Set to "essay-grader"
input
object
required
input.essay
string
required
The essay text
input.quick_mode
boolean
Set to true for faster, less detailed feedback
Request Example
{
  "toolType": "essay-grader",
  "input": {
    "essay": "[Essay text here...]",
    "quick_mode": true
  }
}
Response Example (Quick Mode)
{
  "success": true,
  "toolType": "essay-grader",
  "userId": "user_abc123",
  "result": {
    "overall_score": 85,
    "grade": "B+",
    "summary": "This essay demonstrates good understanding of the topic with clear organization and solid examples. Main areas for improvement: deeper analysis and smoother transitions.",
    "top_suggestions": [
      "Expand your analysis in the second half",
      "Work on paragraph transitions",
      "Consider adding more specific evidence"
    ]
  }
}

Grading Criteria

The Essay Grader evaluates essays based on multiple dimensions:

Content Quality (40%)

  • Thesis & Argument: Clarity and strength of main argument
  • Evidence: Use of relevant examples and supporting details
  • Analysis: Depth of critical thinking and interpretation
  • Relevance: How well the essay addresses the prompt

Organization & Structure (25%)

  • Introduction: Effectiveness of opening and thesis presentation
  • Body Paragraphs: Logical flow and topic sentence quality
  • Transitions: Connections between ideas and paragraphs
  • Conclusion: Strength of closing and synthesis

Writing Quality (25%)

  • Grammar: Sentence structure and grammatical correctness
  • Mechanics: Punctuation, spelling, and capitalization
  • Style: Word choice, tone, and voice
  • Clarity: Ease of understanding and readability

Format & Citations (10%)

  • Formatting: Adherence to required format (MLA, APA, etc.)
  • Citations: Proper attribution of sources
  • Length: Appropriate essay length for assignment

Best Practices

For best results, include the assignment prompt and any grading rubric when submitting essays for feedback.

Providing Context

The more context you provide, the more accurate and helpful the feedback:
{
  "toolType": "essay-grader",
  "input": {
    "essay": "[Full essay text]",
    "prompt": "The specific assignment question or prompt",
    "rubric": "The grading criteria from your teacher",
    "grade_level": "11th",
    "subject": "English Literature",
    "word_count_requirement": "1000-1200 words",
    "citation_style": "MLA"
  }
}

Iterative Improvement

Use the Essay Grader for multiple drafts:
  1. First Draft: Get comprehensive feedback on structure and content
  2. Revised Draft: Focus on specific areas flagged in initial feedback
  3. Final Draft: Polish grammar and mechanics

Comparison with AI Tutor

FeatureEssay GraderAI Tutor
Primary UseGrade written workConversational tutoring
InputComplete essaysQuestions and prompts
OutputScores and detailed feedbackExplanations and study materials
Best ForImproving writing qualityLearning new concepts

Error Responses

{
  "error": "Error message"
}

Common Errors

StatusErrorSolution
400”Missing required fields: toolType and input”Include both toolType and input in request
400”Essay text is required”Ensure input.essay is provided
401”Not authenticated”User must be logged in
500”AI service not configured”Contact support
500”Failed to generate feedback”Try again or check essay format

Rate Limits

Fair usage policies apply. Excessive requests may be rate limited.
Recommended usage:
  • Students: Up to 10 essay gradings per day
  • Teachers: Contact support for increased limits

Future Enhancements

Planned features for the Essay Grader:
  • Plagiarism detection
  • Multiple language support
  • Style guide specific feedback (AP, Chicago, etc.)
  • Comparison with exemplar essays
  • Writing progress tracking over time

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