geography essay
Points for Grammar and Punctuation: Maximum 10 points
Minor errors 0.2
Major errors 0.4
Egregious errors 1.0
Points for Organization: Maximum 15 points
Excellent 13.5-15
Paper includes an introduction that introduces the geographic tradition selected, through a brief explanation of the tradition’s primary focus and the three articles reviewed, including the articles’ authors. This is followed by the paragraphs that contain descriptions of the articles covered in the paper. The article and its primary topic are introduced early in the paragraph, followed by descriptions of at least three interesting things that the student learned in the articles, but in a non-intrusive way (i.e., it does not read like a “laundry list”). There is a conclusion that wraps up the paper, and provides comments on the usefulness of one or both website(s) for educational purposes. Also includes a list of references at the end that uses the proper reference style, as listed in the instructions for the written assignment.
Very good 12-13.5
Paper includes the elements contained in a paper that receives an excellent, with only a few minor exceptions.
Moderate 10.5-12
Paper includes most of the elements contained in a paper that receives an excellent, with one or two poorly organized sections.
Poor 9.0-12
The paper contains several organizational flaws that begin to adversely affect reader comprehension of the articles and concepts discussed within the paper.
Very poor 7.5-9.0
Organizational flaws are numerous enough to make it difficult to read the paper. The conclusion is only one sentence, or is the equivalent to saying “I liked the articles and/or the website” or “I did not like the articles and/or the website.”
Unsatisfactory 0-7.5
The articles are ineffectively covered, the articles and primary topic are not introduced in the introduction, and the paragraphs are so poorly organized that it is difficult to tell what the writer is discussing. There is no conclusion.
Points for Area of Study or Tool/Technique Selected: Maximum 10 points
Excellent
Student names, and thoroughly describes, the selected area of study, and
provides ample evidence on how each article fits into that area of study 9.0-10.0
Good
Student names and describes the selected area of study, and provides at least
some evidence of how each article fits into that area of study 8.0-9.0
Adequate
Student adequately describes area of study, but does not provide
sufficient evidence of how each article fits into that area of study 6.0-8.0
Poor
Student does not adequately describe area of study, and provides
no evidence of how the article fits within that area of study 5.0-6.0
Poor
Student does not describe tradition selected, selects the wrong area
of study for the selected articles, and/or does not provide any link
between the articles and the tradition 0.0-5.0
Points for including the names of the articles: Maximum 10 points
Excellent
Student clearly mentions the article names, authors’ names, and
provides a properly formatted list of citations at the end of the paper. 9.0-10.0
Good
Students’ paper mentions article names, authors’ names and provides
list of citations, with minor exceptions to criteria for receiving an excellent. 8.0-9.0
Adequate
Student provides most of the items required for a good to excellent, but does
not mention the articles in the introduction, mentions the articles, but not the
authors, or provides an improperly formatted list of references. 7.0-8.0
Poor
Student leaves out several items required to receive a good to excellent. 6.0-7.0
Inadequate
Student mentions neither the articles' names, nor the authors. Scores greater
than zero may be assigned if other evidence is provided concerning article titles
and/or author names. 0.0-6.0
Maximum 15 points
Points for three things learned from each of the selected articles
Excellent
The articles and the topics are clearly described, and the student
does an exemplary job of integrating the three things learned from the
articles into a brief summary of the articles, and of the topics that they cover. 13.5-15
Good
The articles and topics are described, with minor exceptions. 12.0-13.5
Adequate
The articles and the topics are clearly described, but the student does
an average job of integrating the three things learned from the articles
into the summary of the articles, and of the topics that they cover. 10.5-12.0
Poor
The articles and the topics covered are incompletely described, and the
student does a minimal job of integrating the three things learned from
the articles into the summary of the articles, and of the topics that they cover. 9.0-10.5
Unsatisfactory
The articles and the topics are incompletely described, the student does not
provide at least three things that were learned, and/or the student's description
of the three things learned reads like a laundry list of things that need to be
checked off. 0-7.5
Maximum 15 points
Points for Site Review
Excellent
Student provides a thorough review of the website and its contents,
plus provides a well-considered assessment of the website’s and its contents’
educational potential. 13.5-15.0
Good
Students provides a review of the website and its contents and provides an
assessment of the website’s and its contents’ educational potential, with
minor exceptions.
Adequate
Student provides an adequate review of the site(s) and its/their contents,
and comments on its educational potential, but the assessment is limited
to how much s/he likes using the website, and/or whether s/he would use
it in the future, without assessing its use as a teaching tool for educators. 10.5-12.0
Poor
Student provides a poor review of the website and its contents, and provides
little to no information about its educational potential, whether for his/her own
purposes, or as a teaching tool for educators. 9.0-10.5
Unsatisfactory
Student provides little to no review of the site or its contents, nor does s/he
mention anything about its/their educational potential. 0-7.5
Total Possible Points: 75 points