Project Proposal Pt 2

302/303 Final Project Proposal Grading Criteria

William Magrino

Reasons why a proposal will receive a grade of F

· The paper is plagiarized, in whole or in part (Instructors must bring all plagiarism issues immediately to a director and/or the Writing Program’s Academic Integrity Coordinator).

· The paper does not meet the basic requirements of the assignment (e.g.: significantly below the page length/word count minimum(s), missing crucial sections).

· The writer does not use sufficient or appropriate documentation (i.e.: insufficient and/or irrelevant sources, inappropriate citation format) or does not support claims with references.

· The paper is written in the form of a report, and fails to focus information toward action.

· The paper depends largely on undirected summary.

· The level of basic organization interferes dramatically with the proposal’s intended meaning. For example, the paragraphs do not follow logically or there is no apparent organizational structure.

· Problems of sentence-level error (especially grammar and syntax) are so severe that they impede meaning and appear.

· The writer does not exhibit a basic competence in writing.

C-range proposals

· The level of research, organization, and logic are sufficient to demonstrate a basic competency.

· The paper puts information in action and is not merely a report or summary.

· The argument shows signs of promise even if it is not fully unified or fully developed.

· The research, while sufficient to pass, does not seem to fulfill all of the needs of the student's argument. Perhaps certain essential facts are missing from an otherwise acceptable paper.

· The writer ignores important difficulties or avoids dealing with salient issues.

· The writer has not fully engaged with or considered the audience's concerns about this project.

· The solution does not follow logically from the problem.

· The paradigm does not mesh with the practice, or is not clearly delineated.

· Generally, a paper that is competent but fails to organize the research into a paradigm will receive a C+ grade.

· The visual aids are especially weak or carelessly prepared.

· The level of error is high or shows signs of general and repeated carelessness.

A B paper has all of the qualities of a C paper, and distinguishes itself in at least some of the following ways:

B-range proposals

· Clearly describes or quantifies the problem or need to be addressed.

· Has a sense of the paradigm or theoretical frame used to define the project.

· Engages (and does not ignore) the difficulties suggested by the research or the plan.

· Uses source materials well and places them in a logical relation to other sources and the thesis.

· Responds to the needs or concerns of the likely audience (or funding source).

· Strives to persuade the reader.

· Is realistically and logically feasible as a real-world project.

· Uses visual aids that are well explained and integrated into the proposal.

· Guides the reader through the argument (using good transitions, sign posts, forecasting, etc.).

· Has mostly error-free writing.

· Often, a B range paper has a strong literature review but a weak plan, or alternately, an imaginative and well developed plan of action that is insufficiently supported by research.

A proposals

An A paper has all of the qualities of a B paper, and distinguishes itself in at least some of the following ways:

· Sets an especially challenging or original task that the student fulfills.

· Demonstrates excellent or innovative research, which is well ordered and cited.

· Organizes the research into a clearly and carefully delineated paradigm.

· Uses graphics that are highly effective at conveying information.

· Has almost completely error-free writing.

· Has a degree of stylistic polish that exceeds the commonplace (though this alone does not make an A paper, it is often a contributing factor).

· Exhibits a remarkably attractive appearance and visually appealing design.

· The best A range projects are those in which the writer does more than merely import an existing paradigm into a new situation. There should be some attempt to modify the model and make it case-specific, expanding the paradigm.