Student Name

GRADES

(15 possible
points)
APPROACH TO
CONTENT
Score:

(15 possible
points)
DEVELOPMENT

Score:

RUBRIC FOR RESEARCH PAPERS

"A" range:
Outstanding
"B" range:
"C" range: Acceptable,
achievement;
Commendable
solid achievement;
significantly
achievement; exceeds meets standards for
exceeds standards standards for course course.
90-100 %
80-89 %
70-79%

Date:
"F" range: Failure to
"D" range: Marginal
meet minimum
achievement; only meets standards (Work that
minimum standards
is not of "passing
(Note: The "D" grade is a quality" should receive
passing grade).
grade "F").
60-69 %
0-59 %

13.5-15 pts.
12-13.4 pts.
11.5-11.9 pts.
9-11.4 pts.
Unique topic or unique Specific, original focus,
Retains overall focus,
Topic lacks focus.
treatment of topic,
content well handled.
generally solid command
takes risks with
of subject matter.
Significance of content is
content; fresh
Significance of content is
unclear.
approach.
clearly conveyed.
Significance is understood.

13.5-15 pts.
Sophisticated,
exceptional use of
examples.

11.5-11.9 pts.
Subject matter well
12-13.4 pts
explored but may show
Good use of examples;
signs of
Sufficient support exists
underdevelopment.
in all key areas.
Competent use of
examples.

9-11.4 pts
Some ideas may lack
support, elaboration.
Lacks sufficient examples,
or relevance of examples
may be unclear.

0-8.9 pts
Ignores assignment.
Lacks significance.

0-8.9 pts
The topic has not been
developed adequately.
Little or no support
provided.

18-20 pts.
0-11.9 pts.
Original and "fluid"
14-15.9 pts.
Absence of logical
organization; all
16-17.9 pts.
Structure is solid, but an
structure and
sentences and
Logical Organization. Has occasional sentence or
12-13.9 pts.
(20 possible
organization.
paragraphs contribute; competent transitions
paragraph may lack
Organization is difficult to
points)
between all sentences
focus. Transitions
follow. Lacks logical flow of
ORGANIZATION sophisticated
Lacks coherence.
transitions between
and paragraphs.
between paragraphs occur
ideas.
paragraphs.
but may lack originality.
Paragraphs do not
Most paragraphs contain
Paragraphs may not include
contain the basic
Each paragraph
topic
Most paragraphs contain
clear topic sentences and
elements: topic
contains a topic
sentences/conclusions
topic
conclusions and may lack
sentence/conclusion,
sentence and
and are fairly unified and sentences/conclusions and unity and development.
unity, and coherence.
Score:
conclusion and is
developed overall.
are satisfactorily unified
They are, therefore,
unified and developed
and developed.
difficult to follow.
around a single point.

GRADES

INTEGRATION
OF RESEARCH
(25 possible
points)
Score:

COMMAND OF
ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
(15 possible
points)

Score:
WRITING
STYLE/
SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
(10 possible
points)

"A" range:
Outstanding
"B" range:
"C" range: Acceptable,
achievement;
Commendable
solid achievement;
significantly
achievement; exceeds meets standards for
exceeds standards standards for course course.
90-100 %
80-89 %
70-79%
22.5-25 pts.
Integration of
quotations and
citations is
sophisticated and
highlights the author's
argument.

17.5-19.9 pts.
20-22.4 pts.
Quotations and citations
Quotations and citations
are integrated into
are integrated into
argument.
argument to enhance the
.
flow of ideas.

13.5-15 pts.
Confidence in use of
standard English.
Language reflects
practiced or refined
understanding of
syntax and usage.

12-13.4 pts
Conveys a strong
understanding of
standard English; the
writer is clear in his or
her attempt to articulate
main points, but may
demonstrate moments of
"flat" or unrefined
language.

8-8.9 pts.
May have a few minor
9-10 pts.
mechanical errors
Sentences vary in
(misplaced commas,
structure, very few if
pronoun disagreement,
any mechanical errors
etc.), but no serious
(no serious mechanical
mechanical errors
errors).
(fragments, run-ons,
comma-splices, etc.).

11.5-11.9 pts.
Competent use of
language; sentences are
solid but may lack
development, refinement,
style.

"F" range: Failure to

"D" range: Marginal
meet minimum
achievement; only meets standards (Work that
minimum standards
is not of "passing
(Note: The "D" grade is a quality" should receive
passing grade).
grade "F").
60-69 %
0-59 %
0-14.9 pts.
Includes plagiarized
15-17.4 pts.
material (intentional or
Support material may not
unintentional; could also
be clearly incorporated into
result in the minimum
argument.
penalty of a 0 for the
entire assignment).

9-11.4 pts
Expression is occasionally
awkward (problematic
sentence structure).

7-7.9 pts.
6-6.9 pts.
Occasional minor
Mechanical errors may at
mechanical errors may
times impede clear
occur, but do not impede understanding of material.
clear understanding of
May have a few serious
material.
mechanical errors, but no
No serious mechanical
recurring serious
errors (fragments, runmechanical errors
ons, comma-splices, etc.). (fragments, run-ons,
comma-splices, etc.)

0-8.9 pts
Sentence structure may
interfere with meaning.
Problems with writing at
the college level.

0-5.9 pts.
Recurring mechanical
errors.
Mechanical errors impede
understanding.

Score:
Total Score:
*Scales: Sum of Points A=96-100, A-=90-95, B+=87-89, B=84-86, B-=80-83, C+=77-79, C=74-76, C-=70-73, D+= 67-69, D=64-66, D=60-63, F=0-59