need improvement in my research paper

Proficient

(Each bullet is worth up to 5 points)

Competent

Novice

Introduction : 40 points

· Descriptive title

· Opening that gets the reader’s interest and sets the scene for the argument

· Clear argument set up and significance of topic given

· Clear thesis statement

· Well-developed paragraph

Introduction : 26 points

· Somewhat descriptive title

· Opening doesn’t clearly get the reader’s interest or set the scene for the argument

· Unclear argument set up or significance of topic unclear

· Unclear thesis statement

· Poorly developed paragraph

Introduction : 0 points

· No descriptive title

· No opening or it doesn’t get the reader’s interest or set the scene for the argument

· No clear argument set up nor significance of topic given

· No clear thesis statement

· No well-developed paragraph

Body: 110 points

· There are at least three supporting points in the argument each fully developed (10 points per point x 3 = 30 points)

· Literature on the topic is reviewed and/or integrated into the discussion

· Each paragraph contains a topic sentence that is directly in support of the thesis.

· Each paragraph fully addresses 1 supporting point of the thesis

· Each paragraph contributes to the discussion of the thesis; more than just quotes and source material are presented

· Sources are used and cited appropriately

· Paragraphs are well-developed/detailed

· Transitions are used

· Organization is appropriate to the topic

· There are no freestanding quotations

· Synthesis is present, strong, and clear, stated, not implied

Body: 71.5 points

· There are at least two supporting points in the argument each fully developed (10 points per point x 2 = 20 points)

· Literature on the topic is inadequately reviewed and/or partially integrated into the discussion

· Each paragraph doesn’t contain a topic sentence or it is not directly in support of the thesis.

· Each paragraph barely addresses 1 supporting point of the thesis

· Each paragraph contributes somewhat to the discussion of the thesis; just quotes and source material are presented

· Sources are used but not cited appropriately

· Paragraphs have lapses in development/detail

· Transitions are used inconsistently

· Lapses in organization but is appropriate to the topic

· There is only one freestanding quotation

· Attempts at synthesis is present, but not strong or clear, unclearly stated (-35 points)

Body: 0 points

· There are less than two supporting points in the argument each fully developed (10 points per point x 0 = 0 points)

· Literature on the topic is inadequately/not reviewed/or is dated and/or not integrated into the discussion

· Each paragraph doesn’t contain a topic sentence that is directly in support of the thesis.

· Each paragraph fails to fully address 1 supporting point of the thesis

· Each paragraph doesn’t contribute to the discussion of the thesis; see next point

· Sources are not used and cited appropriately

· Paragraphs are not well-developed/detailed

· Transitions are not used

· Organization is not appropriate to the topic or not organized

· There are freestanding quotations

· Synthesis is not present, strong, and clear, stated, not implied

Conclusion: 40 points

· Restates/revisits thesis statement

· Provides meaningful ending and closure of the topic with no new ideas/points/ideas introduced

· Has a solution or makes a call to action (may be in body) and gives appropriate details of it

· Is a well-developed paragraph

Conclusion: 26 points

· Restate/revisit thesis statement unclearly

· Provides ending but not meaningful or closure is incomplete of the topic or new ideas/points/ideas are introduced

· Has questionable solution or makes a weak call to action (may be in body) and gives inadequate details of it

· Lapses in paragraph development

Conclusion: 0 points

· Does not restate/revisit thesis statement

· Does not provide ending nor closure of the topic or with irrelevant ideas introduced

· Has no solution or makes no call to action (may be in body) or gives no details of it

· Isn’t a well-developed paragraph

Formatting and Resources: 70 points

· Typed/Set up in correct format

· Appropriate documentation is used in text

· Appropriate bibliographic information given

· At least 6 sources are used, no more than 10

· Sources are appropriate and credible (4 are scholarly)

· Information from sources makes up no more than 10% of the paper

Formatting and Resources: 45.5 points

· Lapses in correct format of typing/set up

· Lapses in appropriate documentation in text

· Only some appropriate bibliographic information given

· More than 10 sources are used

· Not all sources are appropriate and credible (4 are scholarly)

· Information from sources makes up more than 10% but not more than 20% of the paper

Formatting and Resources: 0 points

· Not typed/set up in correct format

· Appropriate documentation is not used in text

· Appropriate bibliographic information is not given

· Less than 6 sources are used

· Sources are not appropriate and credible (<4 are scholarly)

· Information from sources makes up more than 20% of the paper

Grammar and Punctuation: 40 points

· No spelling errors

· No major grammar errors that distract the reader

· No major punctuation errors that distract the reader

· Appropriate word choice for audience

Grammar and Punctuation: 26 points

· Few spelling errors

· Few major grammar errors that distract the reader

· Few major punctuation errors that distract the reader

· Rare inappropriate word choice for audience

Grammar and Punctuation: 0 points

· Many spelling errors

· Many major grammar errors that distract the reader

· Many major punctuation errors that distract the reader

· Inappropriate word choice for audience