Research Paper Criteria

A. Introduction
The introduction sets the scene for your report. The introduction includes
your hypothesis identifying your independent and dependent variables;
an explanation of what prompted your research; and what you hoped to
achieve with your experiment. This should be one paragraph in length.
B. Background information here at least 2 paragraphs well written
in your own words/edited
Your two paragraphs should include information about your topic.
The - Who, What, When, Where, Whys of what youre asking your
scientific question about.
Any information that will support you in the hypothesis youre
making.
C. Final paragraph -Conclusion. --Your background information MUST
include at least one real life connection. In other words why is what
youre doing your experiment on important in real day life, reconnect
this to your introduction.
D.Bibliography (Works cited) separate page
You must keep track of where you got your information from.
Questions you must answer:
o Is my information reliable?
o Where did it come from?
o Who wrote it?
o What is the date of the article youre getting information from?
Or when was it last updated?
On your work cited page you must list:
The web address of any pages you used for information.
The name/title of any book or periodical you used, the author and
date of publication.
For extra credit you can used Son of Citation on the web to
enter your information and create a true Bibliography. (Note if
you are selected for the city science fair you will have to do
this.)

Rubric for grading your research portion of your lab report:

Category

Introduction

Body

Exceeds
Standard
25 pts.
The
introduction is
engaging,. It
includes your
hypothesis
and identifies
your
variables, an
explanation
of what
prompted
your research,
and what you
hoped to
achieve. This
should be one
paragraph in
length.
Each
paragraph has
thoughtful
supporting
detail
sentences
that develop
the main idea.

Meets
Standard
20pts.
The
introduction
includes the
hypothesis
but and
some
explanation
but not fully
stated, but is
one
paragraph in
length.

Nearly Meets
Standard
15pts.
The
introduction
includes the
hypothesis,
but doesnt
explain the
research or
what you
hoped to
achieve. It is
not one
paragraph in
length.

Does Not Meet

Standard
10 pts.
There is no
clear
introduction or
main topic and
the structure
of the paper is
missing.

No
Evidence
0pts.
Absent,
no
evidence

Each
paragraph
has sufficient
supporting
detail
sentences
that develop
the main
idea.
The
conclusion
restates the
introduction.

Each
paragraph
lacks
supporting
detail
sentences.

Each
paragraph fails
to develop the
main idea.

Not
applicable
.

Incomplete
and/or
unfocused.

Absent

Numerous and
distracting
errors in
punctuation,
capitalization
and spelling.
40

Not
applicable

Conclusion

The
conclusion is
engaging and
restates the
introduction.

Mechanics

No errors in
punctuation,
capitalization
and spelling.

Almost no
errors in
punctuation,
capitalization
and spelling.

The
conclusion
does not
adequately
restate the
introduction,
and is not
engaging.
Many errors
in
punctuation,
capitalization
and spelling.

100

80

60

The order of what you will be turning in on

Monday the 21st is as follows:

Score

 Page 1: Cover page

Pages 2 & 3: Problem statement/Introduction including detailed
hypothesis/Research paper followed by works cited pg.
Pages 4: ?? (however many are necessary)
Hypothesis simply stated, Materials List, Procedure, Data Tables, Graphs,
Conclusion/Discussion.
If you go on to the city science fair you will also need to write an abstract.