research paper

Required five-paragraph research essay analyzing a contemporary ethical issue

Capstone

4

Milestones

3                                                       2

Benchmark

1

Explanation of Issues

Issue/problem to be considered critically stated clearly and described comprehensively, delivering all relevant information necessary for full understanding.

Issue/problem to be considered critically is stated, described, and clarified so that understanding is not seriously impeded by omissions.

Issue/problem to be considered critically is stated but description leaves some terms undefined, ambiguities unexplored, boundaries undetermined, and/or backgrounds unknown.

Issue/problem to be considered critically is stated without clarification or description.

Statement of contemporary issue

Evidence

Selecting and using information to investigate a point of view or conclusion

Information is taken from source(s) with enough interpretation/evaluation to develop a comprehensive analysis or synthesis.  Viewpoints of experts are questioned thoroughly.

Information is taken from source(s) with enough interpretation/evaluation to develop a coherent analysis or synthesis.  Viewpoints of experts are subject to questioning.

Information is taken from source(s) with some interpretation/evaluation, but not enough to develop a coherent analysis or synthesis.  Viewpoints of experts are taken as mostly fact, with little questioning.

Information is taken from source(s) without any interpretation/evaluation.  Viewpoints of experts are taken as fact, without questions.

Research

Influence of context and assumption

Thoroughly (systematically and methodically) analyzes own and others’ assumptions and carefully evaluates the relevance of contexts when presenting a position.

Identifies own and others’ assumptions and several relevant contexts when presenting a position.

Questions some assumptions.  Identifies several relevant contexts when presenting a position.  May be more aware of others’ assumptions than one’s own (or vice versa).

Shows an emerging awareness of present assumptions (sometimes labels assertions as assumptions).  Begins to identify some context when presenting a position.

Opposing viewpoints

Student’s position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis)

Specific position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis) is imaginative, taking into account the complexities of an issue.  Limits of position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis) are acknowledged.  Others’ points of view are synthesized within position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis).

Specific position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis) takes into account the complexities of an issue.  Others’ points of view are acknowledged within position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis).

Specific position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis) acknowledges different sides of an issue.

Specific position (perspective, thesis/hypotheses) is stated, but is simplistic and obvious.

Statement of student position

Conclusion and related outcomes (implications and consequences)

Conclusions and related outcomes (consequences and implications) are logical and reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Conclusion is logically tied to a range of information, including opposing viewpoints; related outcomes (consequences and implications) are identified clearly.

Conclusion is logically tied to information (because information is chosen to fit the desired conclusion); some related outcomes (consequences and implications) are identified clearly.

Conclusion is inconsistently tied to some of the information discussed, related outcomes (consequences and implications) are oversimplified.

Statement of conclusion

Content, Organization, Development of Ideas

Paper is 750+ words

Paper is 500-749 words

Paper is 250-499 words

Paper is less than 250 words

Mechanics

No significant errors in grammar or sentence formation. Follows the conventions of written English.

Few errors in grammar or sentence formation that do not affect readability. Generally follows the conventions of written English.

Errors in grammar or sentence formation affect readability. Some mechanical errors (punctuation, paragraph indention, etc.)

Errors in grammar or sentence formation significantly affect readability. Several mechanical errors (punctuation, paragraph indention, etc.)

Criteria

0 points

1 point

2 points

3 points

4 points

New Discussion Topic (Creation)

Did not create new Discussion Topic.

N/A - no points are available for this criterion

Created new Discussion Topic on Sunday.

Created new Discussion Topic on Saturday.

Created new Discussion Topic on/before Friday.

Criteria

0 points

1 point

2 points

3 points

4 points

New Discussion Topic (Content)

No questions were addressed in detail.

One question was addressed in detail.

Two questions were addressed in detail.

Three questions were addressed in detail.

All questions were addressed in detail.

Criteria

0 points

1 point

2 points

3 points

4 points

New Discussion Topic (Length)

Less than 100 words.

100-149 words.

150-199 words.

200-249 words

250+ words.

Criteria

0 points

1 point

2 points

3 points

4 points

Discussion With Peers (Number of Replies)

Did not hold a dialog with any peers or dialog with peers was not meaningful and relevant.

Held a meaningful and relevant dialog with at least one peer.

Held a meaningful and relevant dialog with at least two peers.

Held a meaningful and relevant dialog with at least three peers.

Held a meaningful and relevant dialog with at least four or more peers.

Criteria

0 points

1 point

2 points

3 points

4 points

Discussion With Peers (Response Length)

Did not hold a dialog with any peers or dialog with peers never met the required word length (100+ words).

Dialog with peers rarely met the required word length (100+ words).

Dialog with peers sometimes met the required word length (100+ words).

Dialog with peers often met the required word length (100+ words).

Dialog with peers always met the required word length (100+ words).

Criteria

0 points

1 point

2 points

3 points

4 points

Overall Mechanics/ Professionalism

Errors in mechanics and professionalism severely affect readability and comprehension. 

Some errors in mechanics and lacks professionalism.

Minor errors in mechanics and/or professionalism.

No major errors in mechanics or professionalism but minor typographical errors exist.

No significant errors in mechanics or professionalism. Follows the conventions of written English.

Criteria

0 points

1 point

3 points

6 points

10 points

New Discussion Topic (Content)

No articles were summarized and addressed in detail.

One of the three required articles was summarized and addressed in detail.

Two of the three required articles were summarized and addressed in detail.

All three required articles were summarized but summaries lacked sufficient detail.

All three required articles were summarized but summaries lacked sufficient detail.

Criteria

0 points

1 point

2 points

4 points

5 points

New Discussion Topic (Length)

Less than 200 words.

200-299 words.

300-399 words.

400-499 words

500+ words.

Criteria

0 points

2 points

3 points

4 points

5 points

Overall Mechanics/ Professionalism

Errors in mechanics and professionalism severely affect readability and comprehension. 

Some errors in mechanics and lacks professionalism.

Minor errors in mechanics and/or professionalism.

No major errors in mechanics or professionalism but minor typographical errors exist.

No significant errors in mechanics or professionalism. Follows the conventions of written English.

Criteria

0 points

2 points

5 points

8 points

10 points

Use and citation of Scholarly Sources

No scholarly sources were used to complete this assignment.

Appropriate number of scholarly sources were used but sources were not cited correctly.

Only one scholarly source was used and cited correctly to complete this assignment.

Only two scholarly sources were used and cited correctly to complete this assignment.

Three scholarly sources were used and cited correctly to complete this assignment.

Criteria

4 points

3 points

2 points

1 point

Explanation of Issues

Statement of Real-World issue

Issue/problem to be considered critically stated clearly and described comprehensively, delivering all relevant information necessary for full understanding.

Issue/problem to be considered critically is stated, described, and clarified so that understanding is not seriously impeded by omissions.

Issue/problem to be considered critically is stated but description leaves some terms undefined, ambiguities unexplored, boundaries undetermined, and/or backgrounds unknown.

Issue/problem to be considered critically is stated without clarification or description.

Criteria

4 points

3 points

2 points

1 point

Evidence

Selecting and using information to investigate a point of view or conclusion

Information is taken from source(s)with enough interpretation/evaluation to develop a comprehensive analysis or synthesis.  Viewpoints of experts are questioned thoroughly.

Information is taken from source(s) with enough interpretation/evaluation to develop a coherent analysis or synthesis.  Viewpoints of experts are subject to questioning..

Information is taken from source(s) with some interpretation/evaluation, but not enough to develop a coherent analysis or synthesis.  Viewpoints of experts are taken as mostly fact, with little questioning.

Information is taken from source(s) without any interpretation/evaluation.  Viewpoints of experts are taken as fact, without questions.

Criteria

4 points

3 points

2 points

1 point

Influence of context and assumption

Opposing Viewpoints

Thoroughly (systematically and methodically) analyzes own and others’ assumptions and carefully evaluates the relevance of contexts when presenting a position.

Identifies own and others’ assumptions and several relevant contexts when presenting a position.

Questions some assumptions.  Identifies several relevant contexts when presenting a position.  May be more aware of others’ assumptions than one’s own (or vice versa).

Shows an emerging awareness of present assumptions (sometimes labels assertions as assumptions).  Begins to identify some context when presenting a position.

Criteria

4 points

3 points

2 points

1 point

Student's position (perspective/thesis/hypothesis)

Statement of student position

Specific position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis) is imaginative, taking into account the complexities of an issue.  Limits of position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis) are acknowledged.  Others’ points of view are synthesized within position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis).

Specific position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis) takes into account the complexities of an issue.  Others’ points of view are acknowledged within position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis).

Specific position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis) acknowledges different sides of an issue.

Specific position (perspective, thesis/hypotheses) is stated, but is simplistic and obvious.

Criteria

4 points

3 points

2 points

1 point

Conclusion and related outcomes (implications and consequences)

Statement of Conclusion

Conclusions and related outcomes (consequences and implications) are logical and reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Conclusion is logically tied to a range of information, including opposing viewpoints; related outcomes (consequences and implications) are identified clearly.

Conclusion is logically tied to information (because information is chosen to fit the desired conclusion); some related outcomes (consequences and implications) are identified clearly.

Conclusion is inconsistently tied to some of the information discussed, related outcomes (consequences and implications)are oversimplified.

Criteria

4 points

3 points

2 points

1 point

Overall Mechanics/ Professionalism

No significant errors in mechanics or professionalism. Follows the conventions of written English.

No major errors in mechanics or professionalism but minor typographical errors exist.

Some errors in mechanics and lacks professionalism.

Errors in mechanics and professionalism severely affect readability and comprehension.

Criteria

4 points

3 points

2 points

1 point

Use and citation of Scholarly Sources

At least six scholarly sources were used and cited correctly to complete this assignment.

At least three, but less than six scholarly sources were used and cited correctly to complete this assignment.

Appropriate number of scholarly sources were used but sources were not cited correctly.

No scholarly sources were used to complete this assignment.