Research and Argument Paper Rubric: Common Core for Reading and Writing Standards
Ms. Keeler
Students must MEET or EXCEED as tricked indicators in order to meet standard on the essay
Exceeds Standard
(A)
Thesis/Claim is precise,
*Thesis/ knowledgeable, significant, and
distinguished from alternate or
Claim opposing claims
Develops the topic thoroughly by
selecting the most significant
and relevant facts, concrete
details, quotations, or other
* Use of information and examples
Evidence Skillfully integrates information
into the text selectively to
maintain the flow of ideas and
advance the thesis
Skillfully assesses the strengths
and limitations of each source
that anticipates the audience’s
knowledge level and concerns
Skillfully draws evidence from
informational texts to support
*Use of analysis and thesis/claim
Analysis Skillfully delineates and
evaluates the argument and
specific claims in cited texts,
assessing whether the reasoning
is valid and the evidence is
relevant and sufficient
Skillfully identifies false
statements and fallacious
reasoning
Meets Standard Almost to Standard Below
(B) MUST REWRITE Standard=no RD
Thesis/Claim is precise and knowledgeable Thesis/Claim may be unclear or irrelevant Thesis/Claim is
missing
Develops the topic by selecting significant and Attempts to develop the topic using facts and Does not develop the
relevant facts, concrete details, quotations, or other information, but evidence is inaccurate, topic by selecting
other information and examples irrelevant, and/or insufficient information and
examples from the
Integrates information into the text selectively to
maintain the flow of ideas and advance the
Attempts to integrate information into the text
selectively to maintain the flow of ideas and
text(s)
thesis advance the thesis, but information is
insufficient or irrelevant
Does not integrate
information from the
Assesses the strengths and limitations of each text
source Attempts to assess the strengths and
limitations of each source, but misinterprets Does not assess the
information and uses some invalid evidence strengths and
limitations of each
source and uses
irrelevant evidence
Draws evidence from research to support Attempts to draw evidence from informational Does not use
analysis and thesis/claim texts to support analysis and thesis/claim but evidence from the
Delineates and evaluates the argument and
evidence is insufficient and/or irrelevant informational texts to
support analysis
specific claims in cited texts, assessing whether
the reasoning is valid and the evidence is
Attempts to delineate and evaluate the
argument and specific claims in cited texts,
and/or thesis/claim
relevant and sufficient assessing whether the reasoning is valid and Does not delineate or
the evidence is relevant and sufficient, but evaluate claims in
Identifies false statements and fallacious analysis is insufficient text
reasoning.
Arguments are incomplete or insufficient due Argument is invalid
to false and fallacious logic. and full of fallacious
statements.
 Research and Argument Paper Rubric: Common Core for Reading and Writing Standards
Skillfully introduces the precise
Organization claim and provides background
aimed at knowledge level of
audience while maintaining the
interest of the audience.
Organization skillfully sequences
the claim(s), counterclaims,
reasons, and evidence.
Provides a concluding statement
or section that skillfully follows
from or supports the argument
presented
Skillfully produces clear,
coherent, sophisticated writing in
which the development and
organization are appropriate to
task, purpose, and audience
Skillfully produces clear,
coherent, sophisticated writing in
which the style appropriate to
task, purpose, and audience
Skillfully uses words, phrases,
Writing Style and clauses to link the major
and sections of the text in order to
create cohesion and to clarify
Conventions relationships between the claim
and counterclaim.
Skillfully establishes and
maintains a formal and objective
tone. (when appropriate)
Demonstrates exemplary
command of the conventions of
standard written English
Follows the standard (MLA)
format with no errors
Score and Comments:
Ms. Keeler
Introduces the precise claim and provides Introduction is boring and rote. It does not There is no relevant
background aimed at knowledge level of establish a claim or counterclaim. introduction.
audience while maintaining the interest of the
audience. Attempts to create a logical organization, but Does not provide
may be missing some elements of the logical organization
Organization logically sequences the claim(s), assignment
counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. Does not provide
Attempts to provide a concluding statement or a concluding
Provides a concluding statement or section that section that follows from or supports the statement or section
follows from or supports the argument presented argument presented, but statement does not that follows from or
support thesis supports the
Produces clear and coherent writing in which the argument presented
development and organization are appropriate Attempts to produce clear and coherent
to task, purpose, and audience writing, but errors in logic or organization Does not produce
detracts clear and coherent
writing
Produces clear and coherent writing in which the Attempts to produce clear and coherent Does not produce
development, organization, and style are Skillfully produces clear, coherent, clear and coherent
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience sophisticated writing in which the writing
development, organization, and style are
Uses words, phrases, and clauses to link the appropriate to task, purpose, and audience Lacks cohesion and
major sections of the text in order to create writing, but errors in conventions and writing clarity.
cohesion and to clarify relationships between style detract from understanding
the claim and counterclaim.
Attempts to use words, phrases, and clauses
Written English is
informal and riddled
Establishes and maintains a formal and
objective tone with very few lapses.
to link major sections of the text, but some of
the relationships are unclear.
with errors.
Informal tone.
Demonstrates adequate command of the Establishes but fails to maintain a formal or Does not follow the
conventions of standard written English. objective tone. standard format
Follows the standard (MLA) format for citation Written English is full of errors that detract
with few and/or minor errors from understanding.
Attempts to follow the standard format for
citation but with several errors
Research and Argument Paper Rubric: Common Core for Reading and Writing Standards
Ms. Keeler
 Research and Argument Paper Rubric: Common Core for Reading and Writing Standards
Ms. Keeler
Bioethics is the discipline dealing with the ethical implications of both biological research and the applications of that research, especially in
medicine. Ethicists ask two questions: "What is the right or good thing to do?" and "What are our obligations to one another?" It is a newer, broader
field of study that has arisen during the past twenty or thirty years. It will become increasingly more important to the future as the biological
revolution opens up new powers, new choices, and new dilemmas. Some issues/topics in bioethics include:

 Eugenics (improving the genetic composition of a population) or Coerced/Forced Sterilization (for drug addicts, people in poverty, the
mentally disabled, etc)
 Embryonic Stem Cells/Stem Cell Therapy/ Gene Therapy (harvesting from embryos, treating with stem cells, modifying mutations, etc)
 Euthanasia (assisted suicide for humans, rights to die for humans, animal euthanasia)
 Xenotransplantation (transplanting one set of living cells from one species to another: pig valves in human hearts, porcine islets for diabetics,
ape hearts, etc)
 Transgenics (Genetically modified foods, organisms, animals, etc)
 Body Modification (Circumcision {male or female}, Transsexuals, Sex Reassignment/Gender Dysmorphia, etc)
 Cloning (etc)
 Life Support/ Life Extension (persistent vegetative state)
 Organ Transplants/ Organ Trade (organs for money, surrogacy, transplants between differing cultures and races, fertility,
unlimited/anonymous sperm donation)

All of the above topics need to be narrowed and more specific. Topics may be generated from the list and they are on a first come first serve basis. No
two papers may be on the same topic. You may choose a topic that is not on the list, just check with me first.

Index Cards/Research: Test and Quiz Grade

You are responsible for researching both sides of your chosen topic. Part of your research requirement is that you pull from reputable resources. Since
your topics are fairly current, your primary research will be pulled from the Internet. Your sources must be scholarly, not a random website you found
via Google.
You will be responsible for the following:
Five Source Cards:
 These are MLA cited cards that tell where you find your information.
 You will number them in alphabetical order as follows: S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5.

S1 S2

DeWitt, Kaya. Still Talking: Still Wrong. Smith, Doreen. Never On Time: The Tales
Atlanta: Do Your Work P: 2013. of a Teenage Sloth. Atlanta: You
Are Not That Stealthy P: 2011.
 Research and Argument Paper Rubric: Common Core for Reading and Writing Standards
Ms. Keeler

Forty-Five Information Cards:

 These are cards that are direct quotations, paraphrases, or summaries of your information researched. If you use a book or periodical with
page numbers, you must place the page number on the card.
 You must place the number of the source from which you obtained the information in the corner, as you will shuffle these cards.
 Place a category name on the top of the card. You will eventually group your cards according to category, not according to source.

Philosophy 2 Philosophy 1

“All children can learn” “Only those who want to learn, will learn.”

23 65

Educational Background 1 Educational Background 2

Bach. Business, Morehouse 1978 BA Elementary Ed. Spelman 1982,

Masters G State in Ed. Leadership 1998

35 43

A Works Cited
 This must be in MLA Format. It should be emailed to msjkeeler@gmail.com by the date below.
 You can use sites such as the following to generate your Works Cited.
o http://citationmachine.net/index2.php
o www.easybib.com/
o http://www.interaction-design.org/citation-maker/index.html
 Research and Argument Paper Rubric: Common Core for Reading and Writing Standards
Ms. Keeler
Paper: Project and Test Grade (and various class grades)

Your paper should include the following sections:

Introduction: (2 pages)
• What is the bioethical question?
• Relevant scientific background information
• Historical perspective.
• Include how the biotechnology/procedure is actually done (DETAILS!).

Viewpoints: (2 pages)
Write about each one separately and describe the arguments supporting that viewpoint. In most cases there are at least two viewpoints, but
there can be more. DO NOT argue for any one perspective; speak about them in an unbiased manner.

Opinion: (2 pages)
State YOUR viewpoint of the ethical issue. This is the time to take a stand, and argue the ethical viewpoint constructively. This is not the time
to rant; a scholarly paper is done in a non-emotional, even-handed manner. Please write in the third person, the word “I” should never appear in your
paper.

Works Cited (1 page)

A minimum of 5 references is required.
You must type this essay.

It will be graded using the Common Core Research Paper Rubric.

Peer Review: Test Grade

In addition to your own paper you will be reading another students paper. You will complete a research rubric using direct quotes/evidence from their
paper to support your assessment. In addition, you will write a one-page detailed critique of the paper including:
 How the paper was written?
 How well did they explain the biotechnology, and the ethical issue?
 How well did they explain the various viewpoints?
 How well did they convince you of their viewpoint?
 Do you agree with their viewpoint?

This will factor into your project grade and NOT that of the paper you read.
 Research and Argument Paper Rubric: Common Core for Reading and Writing Standards
Ms. Keeler

You must have each of the following documents in order to pass. In addition, you must have the documents on time.
If you do not cite using MLA or if you omit your Works Cited or parenthetical documentations, your paper will lose 10 points per day until it
adheres to MLA guidelines.

TOPIC SELECTION AND RESEARCH BEGINS ________________________________________________________________________

MLA WORKS CITED DUE ______________________________ 50 INDEX CARDS DUE ________________________________

FIRST OUTLINE DRAFT DUE ______________________________ FIRST TYPED DRAFT DUE ____________________________

REVISION SHEET IS DUE ON ______________________________ PEER REVIEW IS DUE ON ____________________________

FINAL PAPER IS DUE ON ______________________________

YOU MUST PLACE YOUR FINAL PROJECT IN A BOUND FOLDER IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER FROM TOP TO
BOTTOM:
1. YOUR FINAL PAPER WITH PAGINATED MLA WORKS CITED
2. YOUR REVISION SHEET: THIS MUST BE COMPLETED AND APT
3. YOUR FIRST TYPED DRAFT
4. YOUR TYPED OUTLINE
5. YOUR PEER REVIEW