social science

SSC 200 – Research Proposal Rubric

Your Name ____________________________

Below are the criteria that your paper will be based on. Not all of these

categories are given equal weight, but will be taken together to determine your

point total. A score of 73-80 will be only given for exceptional work - A good

paper will get you a 72 (A-) at best.

Directions Followed

1 page: Overview

- Topic must include human-animal interactions (can’t be strictly on animal behavior)

- Appropriate social science discipline - Quality of research question and it is clearly stated

1-2 pages: Methods / Data

- Appropriate methods selected for topic

- Why you choose that methodology

- How would subjects be recruited or sources of data identified

5-7 pages: Literature Review

- The quality of the essay / readability - Material is integrated rather than summarizing each source - Minimum number of academic sources from appropriate journals

1-2 pages: Challenges

1-2 pages: Role of Theory

1-2 pages: Future Research

1-2 pages: Bibliography

POINT TOTAL (OUT OF 80)

(see next page for deductions)

The following four problems will result

in significant point deductions (15-30 pts) for EACH one checked

____ Topic doesn’t connect enough to the Social Sciences

____ Not enough peer reviewed sources. You should not just list a database –

If I don’t see an academic journal listed in the bibliography citation, the

source will not be counted as an academic source

____ Your Lit Review is more of an annotated bibliography

____ No completing all six sections of the paper: Overview, Methods, Lit

Review, Challenges, Theory, Future

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OTHER DEDUCTIONS

____ Topic doesn’t really connect to the discipline you’ve identified

____ You have not clearly stated your Research Question

____ You do not have enough sources for your Lit Review

Paper is too short

____ The methods you have chosen will not provide the data needed to

answer your research question