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GRADING RUBRIC FOR A RESEARCH PAPER

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Introduction/ Exceptional Proficient Basic Weak or no
Thesis introduction introduction introduction introduction of
that grabs that is that states topic topic.
interest of interesting and but lacks
reader and states topic. interest.
states topic.
Thesis is clear
Thesis is and arguable Thesis is Paper’s purpose
exceptionally statement of somewhat clear is unclear/
clear, arguable, position. and arguable. thesis is weak
well- or missing.
developed, and
a definitive
statement.
Quality of Paper is Information Information Information has
Information/ exceptionally relates to the relates to the little or nothing
Evidence researched, main topic. main topic, few to do with the
extremely details and/or thesis.
detailed, and Paper is well- examples are
historically researched in given. Information has
accurate. detail and from weak or no
a variety of Shows a connection to
Information sources. limited variety the thesis.
clearly relates of sources.
to the thesis.

Support of Exceptionally Consistent Some Limited or no

Thesis/ critical, connections connections connections
Analysis relevant and made between made between made between
consistent evidence and evidence and evidence and
connections thesis thesis. thesis.
made between
evidence and Good analysis. Some analysis. Lack of
thesis. analysis.

Excellent
analysis.
Organization/ Exceptionally Clear and Somewhat Lacks
Development clear, logical, logical order clear and development of
of Thesis mature, and that supports logical ideas with
thorough thesis with development weak or no
development of good with basic transitions
thesis with transitions transitions between and
excellent between and between and within
transitions within within paragraphs.
between and paragraphs. paragraphs.
within
paragraphs.
Conclusion Excellent Good summary Basic summary Lack of
summary of of topic with of topic with summary of
topic with clear some final topic.
concluding concluding concluding
ideas that ideas. ideas.
impact reader.
Introduces no Introduces no
Introduces no new new
new information. information.
information.
Style/Voice Style and voice Style and voice Style and voice Style and voice
are not only appropriate to somewhat inappropriate
appropriate to the given appropriate to or do not
the given audience and given audience address given
audience and purpose. and purpose. audience,
purpose, but purpose, etc.
also show Word choice is Word choice is
originality and specific and often Word choice is
creativity. purposeful, and unspecific, excessively
somewhat generic, redundant,
Word choice is varied redundant, and clichéd, and
specific, throughout. clichéd. unspecific.
purposeful,
dynamic and Sentences are Sentences are Sentences are
varied. mostly clear, somewhat very unclear.
active (SVO), unclear;
Sentences are and to the excessive use
clear, active point. of passive
(subject-verb- voice.
object), and to
the point.
Grammar/ Control of May contain Contains So many
Usage/ grammar, few spelling, several spelling,
Mechanics usage, and punctuation, spelling, punctuation,
mechanics. and grammar punctuation, and grammar
errors. and grammar errors that the
Almost entirely errors which paper cannot be
free of spelling, detract from the understood.
punctuation, paper’s
and readability.
grammatical
errors.
Citation Conforms to Conforms to Frequent errors Lack of APA
Format APA rules for APA rules for in APA format. format/
formatting and formatting and numerous
citation of citation of errors.
sources are sources with
perfect. minor
exceptions.
Works Cited/ Entries entirely Entries mostly Frequent errors Lack of APA
Bibliography correct as to correct as to in APA format. format/
APA format. APA format. numerous
errors.