Senior Research Paper Rubric

Content:
Point Value 2 3 4 5

Evidence of thesis can

There is no clear
Attempt to create a be found and author Establishes thesis and
purpose of the paper;
thesis statement and generally maintains maintains clear
Thesis Statement seemingly little
communicate the purpose through purpose via suitable
attempt to create a
purpose throughout. suitable voice and/or voice and tone.
thesis statement.
tone.

Introduction is Introduction is
Introduction is weak Introduction has some
consistent with the completely consistent
and is not consistent connections to the
paper but lacks focus with the paper,
with the rest of the rest of the paper but
Introduction and insight. It focused, consistent,
paper. It does not lacks direction. It does
contains an attention and includes a strong
include an attention not include and
getter but it is weak and adequate
getter. attention getter.
or inadequate. attention getter.

Conclusion has some Conclusion is Conclusion is

connections to the consistent with the completely consistent
Conclusion is weak
rest of the paper but paper but lacks focus with the paper,
and is not consistent
lacks direction. It does and insight. It does focused, and
with the rest of the
not include a restate the thesis consistent. It does
Conclusion paper. It does not
restatement of the statement and it restate the thesis
leave the reader with
thesis statement and leaves the reader with statement and it
something to think
it does not leave the something to think leaves the reader with
about.
reader with something about but it is weak or something to think
to think about. inconsistent. about.

Depth of thought Depth and complexity

supported by of thought supported
Unelaborated ideas
Ideas are unclear elaborated, relevant by rich, pertinent
that are not fully
and/or not well- supportive evidence details; supporting
Meaningful explained or
developed and the provides clear vision of evidence leads to
Development of supported; repetitive
paper does not focus the idea; contains high-level idea
Ideas details and the paper
on the thesis details but does not development and
does not focus on the
statement. stay focused on the there is focus on the
thesis statement.
thesis statement thesis statement
throughout the paper. throughout the paper.

Content Total: ___________/ 20

Organization:
Point Value 2 3 4 5

Weak
Somewhat unfocused Careful and relevant
organization of Logical organization of
and/or unclear, organization of ideas,
ideas, argument ideas, argument logically
Organization argument does no logical progression of
does not logically progress but is weak, and
of Paper logically progress, and argument, and there is
progress, and transition are used but
there is little use of evident of skillful
there is no use of sparingly.
transitions. transitions.
transitions.

The paper follows the The paper follows the

The paper does The paper follows the
research structure but research structure in
not follow the research structure but
there is lack of logical detail, covers all the main
Research research is somewhat unfocused
organization of ideas and ideas in the outline, and
Structure structure or cover and/or unclear and
the paper does not include there is careful and
any of the main misses a few of the
all the main points in the relevant organization of
points. main points.
outline. ideas.

Organization Total: ___________/10

Mechanics:
 Point Value 2 3 4 5
Apparent
confusion with the Rich and precise
use of language, Simplistic and/or language is used
inappropriate unclear language, word Effective language is used, throughout the paper. Verb
word choice, choice is weak, verb verb tense is consistent, tense is consistent, word
Vocabulary inconsistent verb tense is inconsistent, word choice is adequate, choice is strong, and there
tense, and and there is some use and there are few fragments are little to no fragments
incorrect of slang/run-ons/ and run-ons. and run-ons. There is no
agreement. Use of fragments. use of slang throughout
slang and run- the paper.
ons/fragments
Multiple
grammatical, Some errors in Few grammatical,
Nearly error-free in
stylistic, grammar, punctuation, punctuation, spelling,
Spelling, punctuation, spelling,
punctuation, spelling, stylistic and stylistic and format errors
Grammar, grammar, style and format
spelling and format that interfere but they do not take away
and which reflect clear
format errors that with clarity but do not from the clarity of the paper
Punctuation understanding and
take away from take away from the and show some
thorough proofreading
the clarity of the message of the paper. proofreading.
paper.
Organized and complex
Unclear, incorrect, Simplistic and/or
sentence structure that has Sentence structure is
Sentence and/or ineffective awkward sentence
some stylistic variation. varied in composition and
Structure sentence structure. Use of 1st and
There is some use of 1st or length. There is no use of
and Point of structure and use 2nd person but not
2nd person but it does not 1st or 2nd person
view of 1st or 2nd person throughout the entire
interfere with the clarity of throughout the paper.
throughout paper. paper.
the paper.

Mechanics Total: ___________/ 15

Point Value 2 3 4 5
All cited works are done in
the correct format with no
errors. Quotes appear in
Few cited works are Most cited works are done in proper place. Period
No works are
In-text done in the correct the correct format. appears in correct spot.
cited throughout
citations format. Inconsistencies evident. Author/title listed
the paper.
correctly. All
documentation includes
page numbers

Citation Format Total: ___________/ 5

FINAL PAPER SCORE: _____________

Comments:

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