| | Exemplary | Proficient | Developing | Beginning |
| Sociological Insight | Points: | Points: | Points: | Points: |
| | 30 (30.00%) | 25.5 (25.50%) | 21 (21.00%) | 16.5 (16.50%) |
| | • Paper demonstrates an in-depth reflection on, and personalization of, the theories, concepts, and/or terms presented in the course. • Viewpoints and interpretations are insightful and well supported. | • Paper demonstrates a general reflection on, and personalization of, the theories, concepts, and/or terms presented in the course. • Viewpoints and interpretations are supported. | • Paper demonstrates a minimal reflection on, and personalization of, the theories, concepts, and/or terms presented in the course. • Viewpoints and interpretations are unsupported or supported with flawed arguments. | • Paper demonstrates a lack of reflection on, or personalization of, the theories, concepts, and/or terms presented in the course. • Viewpoints and interpretations are missing, inappropriate, and/or unsupported. |
| Critical Analysis | Points: | Points: | Points: | Points: |
| | 25 (25.00%) | 21.25 (21.25%) | 17.5 (17.50%) | 13.75 (13.75%) |
| | • Ideas are well developed and clarity of purpose is exhibited throughout the paper. • An abundance of evidence of critical, careful thought and analysis and/or insight. • Evidence and examples are vivid and specific while focus remains tight. | • Ideas and clarity of purpose are generally evident throughout the essay. • Evidence of critical, careful thought and analysis and/or insight. • There is good, relevant, and supporting examples and evidence. | • Ideas are expressed though it may be vague or too broad; Some sense of purpose is maintained throughout the essay. • Some evidence of critical, careful thought and analysis and/or insight. • There are some examples and evidence, though general. | • Ideas and clarity of purpose are absent or incompletely expressed and maintained. • Little to no evidence of critical, careful thought and analysis and/or insight. • There are too few or no examples and evidence or they are mostly irrelevant. |
| Structure and Organization | Points: | Points: | Points: | Points: |
| | 20 (20.00%) | 17 (17.00%) | 14 (14.00%) | 11 (11.00%) |
| | • Paper is logically organized • Easily followed. • Effective, smooth, and logical transitions. • Professional format. | • Paper has a clear organizational structure with some digressions, ambiguities or irrelevances • Easily followed. • Basic transitions • Structured format. | • There is some level of organization though digressions, ambiguities, irrelevances are too many. • Difficult to follow. • Ineffective transitions • Rambling format. | • There is no apparent organization to the paper. • Difficult to follow • No or poor transitions. • No format. |
| Grammar and Style | Points: | Points: | Points: | Points: |
| | 15 (15.00%) | 12.75 (12.75%) | 10.5 (10.50%) | 8.25 (8.25%) |
| | • Essay is free of distracting spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors • Absent of fragments, comma splices, and/or run-on sentences. | • Essay has few spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors allowing reader to follow ideas clearly. • Very few fragments, comma splices, and/or run-on sentences. | • Most spelling, punctuation, and grammar correct allowing reader to progress though essay. • Some fragments, comma splices, and/or run-on sentences. • Some errors remain. | • Spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors create distraction, making reading difficult. • Fragments, comma splices, run-on sentences evident. • Errors are frequent. |
| Paper Format | Points: | Points: | Points: | Points: |
| | 10 (10.00%) | 8.5 (8.50%) | 7 (7.00%) | 5.5 (5.50%) |
| | • Meets all formal and assignment requirements. • Margins and/or spacing requirements have been met. • Exceeds or meets paper length requirement. • Essay is neat and correctly assembled with a professional look. • Outside sources properly cited. • Follows MLA or APA format and uses in-text citations. | • Mostly meets format and assignment requirements. • Margins and/or spacing requirements have been met. • Meets paper length requirement. • Essay is neat and correctly assembled. • Outside sources properly cited. • Follows MLA or APA format and uses in-text citations. | • Falls below format and assignment requirements. • Margins and/or spacing requirements have not been met. • Essay is neat but may have some assembly errors. • Outside sources not cited or not properly cited. • Incorrect use of MLA or APA format, and use of in-text citations may be lacking or improperly used. | • Disregards format and assignment requirements. • Incorrect margins and spacing. • Paper length falls far below minimum expectations. • Neatness of essay needs attention. • Lacks citation of outside sources. • MLA or APA format not met or non existent with no use of in-text citations. |