History of The Middle East

Course Content

Exceptional

4

90-100%

Good

3

80-89%

Fair/Adequate

2

70-79%

Limited

1

60-69%

Poor/Unacceptable

0

0-59%

Points

Available

Points

Awarded

Attention to instructions and assignment

Follows and exceeds expectations noted in instructions

Follows instructions

Follows some but not all instructions

Gestures towards instructions but demonstrates little comprehension or competency

Disregards instructions

10

Creative Thought/

Problem-Solving

Demonstrates a high degree of originality, insight, and/or problem-solving skill

Shows some originality, insight, and/or problem-solving skill

Shows minimally acceptable originality, insight, and/or problem-solving skill

Demonstrates very little creative thought or insight; consists mostly of second-hand ideas

Shows no original thought; all second-hand ideas

20

Thesis statement

Thesis statement is specific, significant, arguable, and easy to find.

Thesis statement arguable and easy to find.

Thesis statement minimally acceptable but somewhat general or obvious

Thesis statement simplistic or incomprehensible

No thesis statement.

5

Development and Support

Thoroughly and insightfully explores, explains, and supports each idea

Develops and supports key points

Inconsistently develops and supports ideas

Inadequately or ineffectively explains and defends ideas

Does not make a meaningful attempt to explain or support ideas

15

Clarity

Difficult material is made clear and presented in academic language

Most ideas are presented clearly, but sometimes too simplistically

Wordy; some points require rereading to understand fully

Unclear and difficult to understand

Largely incomprehensible

10

Writing Skills

Exceptional

4

90-100%

Good

3

80-89%

Fair/Adequate

2

70-79%

Limited

1

60-69%

Poor/Unacceptable

0

0-59%

Points

Available

Points

Awarded

Structure/Organization

Well organized from introduction to conclusion; paragraphs and ideas flow coherently

Easy to follow, but would benefit from some restructuring and/or stronger transitions between ideas

Readable, but order of ideas and/or transitions between ideas need work

Paper is difficult to follow

Ideas are presented randomly with no clear logic governing their order or transitions between them

10

Formal/professional

language

Highly articulate academic tone

Clear and appropriate language

Acceptable language use overall, but some informal language

Some acceptable language use, but overall tone is informal

Lack of respect shown to subject through use of slang and/or overly casual or colloquial language

10

Grammar (sentence structure, subject/verb agreement, pronoun/antecedent agreement, etc.)

No grammatical errors

Occasional errors in grammar (one or two per page)

Several minor errors per page

Grammatical errors make it necessary to reread sentences and/or sections to discern meaning

Coherence of overall meaning unclear due to grammar

10

Punctuation, capitalization, & spelling/word choice

Punctuation, capitalization, and spelling are all correct.

No more than one error of this type per page

Approx. two or three errors of this type per page

Approx. four or five errors of this type per page

Paper requires extensive editing/proofreading in this area

10