Research Paper

Student Name ______________________________________________________________

CATEGORY

4 - Above
Standards

3 - Meets
Standards

2 - Approaching
Standards

1 - Below
Standards

Writing Process

Final draft is typed with a

The writer left out 1 part The writer left out 2
title page. Evidence of the of the writing process.
parts of the writing
writing process is included
process.
(prewriting, drafting,
revising, and editing)

Introduction

The introductory paragraph 1 part of the introduction 2 parts of the

3 or more parts of the
has a strong attention
is weak or missing.
introduction are weak or introduction are weak or
grabber, main ideas, and a
missing.
missing.
thesis statement that states
the topic of the paper
without restating the main
ideas.

Organization of
Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs

The writer has made
have followed the
1 2 errors with
correct organization:
organization
topic sentence, 3 main
idea sentences,
elaboration sentences,
and a closing sentence.

The writer has made

3 4 errors with
organization.

The writer left out 3 parts

of the writing process.

The writer has made 5

or more errors with
organization.

Quality of
Strong and relevant
Elaboration in Body details give the reader
Paragraphs
important information
and go beyond the
obvious.

Relevant details give the Weak details give the

reader important
reader minimal
information.
information

Details are irrelevant

and/or lack quality.

Integration (Flow of
Transitions
Throughout the
Paper)

A variety of thoughtful
transitions are used
between sentences and
paragraphs.

Transitions are used

between sentences (but
not a variety) and
between paragraphs.

Conclusion

Conclusion has the

1 part of the conclusion
thesis statement
is weak or missing.
rephrased without
restating the three main
ideas, main idea
sentences, and a so
what statement that
keeps your reader
thinking.

Focus

Writer has stayed on

topic throughout the
entire paper.

Voice

Engaging word choice Shows personality

shows personality
without addressing the
without addressing the reader.
reader. (Doesnt use In
this paper, I will tell
you, I hope you,
Now you know)

Writer has strayed from Frequently addresses

the topic 2 times.
the reader.

Conventions

Writer makes 1 2
errors in grammar,
spelling, capitalization,
or punctuation.

Writer makes 5 - 6
errors in grammar,
spelling, capitalization,
or punctuation.

Bibliography

All sources are

All sources are
accurately documented accurately documented,
in the desired format.
but a few are not in the
desired format.

Transitions are used

There are not enough
only between sentences transitions used.
or paragraphs and not
both.
2 parts of the conclusion 3 or more parts of the
are weak or missing.
conclusion are weak or
missing.

Writer has strayed from Writer has strayed from Writer has strayed from
the topic 1 time.
the topic 2 times.
the topic 3 or more
times.

Writer makes 3 - 4
errors in grammar,
spelling, capitalization,
or punctuation.

Writer makes more than

7 errors in grammar,
spelling, capitalization,
or punctuation.

All sources are

Some sources are not
accurately documented, accurately documented.
but many are not in the
desired format.