Catagory

Expert

Proficient

Apprentice

Novice

Pts

Research Questions

Wrote thoughtful, creative, well-worded specific questions that were relevant to the assigned topic.

Wrote well-worded, specific questions that were relevant to the assigned topic.

Wrote questions which lacked focus, were poorly stated, and were not entirely relevant to the assigned topic.

Wrote questions which lacked a specific focus, were poorly stated, and not relevant to the assigned topic.

Thesis

A thesis statement provides direction for the paper, either by statement of a position or hypothesis.

Thesis is clear and appropriate.

Thesis fairly well supported.

Thesis is fairly clear.

Inconsistent support for thesis.

Thesis is not supported or unclear

Outline

Notes

Extracted relevant information.

Extracted mostly relevant information.

Extracted a lot of information which wasn’t relevant.

Extracted irrelevant information.

Wrote notes including succinct key facts which directly answered all of the research questions and were written in the student's own words.

Wrote notes which included facts that answered most of the research questions and were written in the student’s own words.

Wrote notes which included irrelevant facts which did not answer the research questions. Some notes were copied directly from the original source.

Wrote notes which included a majority of facts which did not answer the research questions. Most or all notes were copied word-for-word from the original source.

Introduction

Body

Presented content clearly and concisely with a logical progression of ideas and effective supporting evidence.

Presented most of the content with a logical progression of ideas and supporting evidence.

Presented content which failed to maintain a consistent focus, showed minimal organization and effort, and lacked an adequate amount of supporting evidence.

Presented content which was unfocused, poorly organized, showed little thought or effort and lacked supporting evidence.

Dress-ups

Openers

Decorations

Styles

Content

Main points are memorable.

Language and style appropriate for intended audience.

Paper presents well-developed analysis and synthesis.

Reader is very engaged.

Language and style appropriate.

Paper presents reasonable analysis and synthesis.

There is a little nuance, inference and subtlety.

Main points clear.

Reader is engaged.

Language and style only fair.

Less-developed analysis and synthesis.

Nuance, inference and subtlety lacking.

Main points present, not well made.

Language and style poor.

Analysis and synthesis lacking.

Main points not discernable.

Citation

Cites all data obtained from other sources.

Cited all sources of information accurately to demonstrate the credibility and authority of the information presented.

Cited most sources of information in proper format and documented sources to enable accuracy checking.

Cited most sources of information improperly and provided little or no supporting documentation to check accuracy.

Created citations which were incomplete or inaccurate, and provided no way to check the validity of the information gathered.

Does not cite sources. Failed to use information ethically.

Grabber/

Hook

Reader excited to read this.

Reader wants to read this.

Reader likes to read this.

Reader will read this.

Connections/

Transitions

Cohesive

Ties together information from all sources. Paper flows from one issue to the next without the need for headings. Author's writing demonstrates an understanding of the relationship among material obtained from all sources.

For the most part, ties together information from all sources. Paper flows with only some disjointedness. Author's writing demonstrates an understanding of the relationship among material obtained from all sources.

Sometimes ties together information from all sources. Paper does not flow - disjointedness is apparent. Author's writing does not demonstrate an understanding of the relationship among material obtained from all sources.

Does not tie together information. Paper does not flow and appears to be created from disparate issues. Headings are necessary to link concepts. Writing does not demonstrate understanding any relationships

Sources

More than 5 current sources, of which at least 3 are peer-review journal articles or scholarly books. Sources include both general background sources and specialized sources.

5 current sources, of which at least 2 are peer-review journal articles or scholarly books.  All web sites utilized are authoritative.

The bibliography is complete.

The evidence used reflects multiple views.

Fewer than 5 current sources,  or fewer than 2 of 5 are peer-reviewed journal articles or scholarly books. All web sites utilized are credible.

Valid sources are inconsistently used.

The bibliography is missing some pieces.

Fewer than 5 current sources, or fewer than 2 of 5 are peer-reviewed journal articles or scholarly books. Not all web sites utilized are credible, and/or sources are not current.

The evidence seldom comes from valid sources.

The bibliography is missing significant information.

Spelling

Grammar

Integration of Knowledge

The paper demonstrates that the author fully understands and has applied concepts from their research findings.. Concepts are integrated into the writer’s own insights. The writer provides concluding remarks that show analysis and synthesis of ideas.

The paper demonstrates that the author, for the most part, understands and has applied their research findings. Some of the conclusions, however, are not supported in the body of the paper.  

The paper demonstrates that the author, to a certain extent, understands and has applied their research findings.

The paper does not demonstrate that the author has fully understood and applied their research findings.

Fluency

Paper contains a “roadmap” for the reader.

There is a logical flow to the topics/arguments.

Conclusion follows clearly from the arguments presented.

Paper is fairly well organized.

Conclusion follows from the rest of the paper.

Paper weakly organized.

Conclusion is acceptable.

Paper is not organized.

Conclusion doesn’t follow from the rest of the paper.

Conclusion

Paper Format