Analytical Research Essay

ENGV 306 Analytical Research Essay Grading Rubric

Expression

Mechanics

Superior Strong Competent Weak Unacceptable

Structure and Content (60%)

The introduction invites the reader to keep reading by giving a concise yet complex overview of the topic and its relevance.

The thesis elegantly and concisely synthesizes the writer’s research findings and provides a sophisticated answer to the research question.

Throughout, the writer thoroughly and insightfully analyzes the argumentation of each source. The writer also demonstrates how that argumentation arises in, and responds to, the rhetorical situation in which the source was created.

The writer skillfully and appropriately uses textual evidence to support their points and employs a balance of summaries, paraphrases, and quotations.

Transitions are seamless.

The introduction gives a clear and informative overview of the topic and its relevance.

The thesis clearly synthesizes the writer’s research findings and provides a complex answer to the research question.

Throughout, the writer thoroughly and skillfully analyzes the argumentation of each source. The writer also demonstrates how that argumentation arises in, and responds to, the rhetorical situation in which the source was created.

The writer uses textual evidence appropriately to support their points and employs a balance of summaries, paraphrases, and quotations.

Transitions are smooth.

The introduction generally gives a good overview of the topic and its relevance, but some important information seems to be missing (or, alternatively, non- essential and distracting information is included).

The thesis synthesizes the writer’s research findings and answers the research question, but aspects of the thesis could be more clear, complex, and/or could more directly respond to the research question.

Throughout, the writer thoroughly analyzes the argumentation of each source, and demonstrates how that argumentation arises in and responds to the rhetorical situation in which the source was created. In some places, however, the analysis could be more complex and/or thorough.

The writer uses textual evidence to support their points, but in some places the evidence doesn’t quite fit or prove the point and/or there could be a more appropriate balance of summaries, paraphrases, and quotations.

Transitions are functional.

The introduction is cursory or confusing and doesn’t provide all the information the reader needs to understand the controversy.

The thesis is overly basic or confusing and/or does not directly answer the research question.

Throughout, the writer analyzes the argumentation of each source, but that analysis could be more complex and/or thorough in several places.

The writer does not use textual evidence to support their points or there are several places where the evidence isn’t appropriate or isn’t adequately explained.

There is a significant imbalance between summaries, paraphrases, and quotations.

Transitions are occasionally jarring.

The essay does not respond to the prompt.

Expression (25%)

Ideas are expressed in a compelling and striking way.

Prose is polished and elegant. Word choice is precise and sentence structures are complex and varied.

Writer builds credibility as a scholar through the use of a sophisticated academic tone.

The title is original, creative, and

Ideas are expressed in a clear and precise way.

Prose is smooth and sophisticated. Word choice is appropriate and sentence structures are varied.

Tone is appropriate for academic audience.

Title is original and informative.

Ideas are expressed in a clear way.

Prose is comprehensible but sentence structures tend to be repetitive and/or simple. Word choices are occasionally incorrect and distracting.

Tone is occasionally inappropriate for an academic audience.

Title is informative.

Ideas are expressed in an occasionally unclear way.

Prose is awkward and sentence structures tend to be repetitive and simple. Word choices are often incorrect and distracting.

Tone is often inappropriate for an academic audience.

Title is inappropriate for the genre,

Ideas are expressed in an unclear way.

Prose is awkward and sentence structures are repetitive and simple. Word choices are incorrect and distracting.

Tone is inappropriate for an academic audience.

The essay has a generic title (such as “Analytical Research Essay”) or no title.

ENGV 306 Analytical Research Essay Grading Rubric

engaging. audience, purpose, and/or topic.

Grammar and Scholarly Citation Style (15%)

The grammar and use of scholarly citation style are flawless.

There are very few minor errors in grammar and scholarly citation style.

Occasional errors in grammar scholarly citation style.

Frequent errors in grammar and scholarly citation style.

Frequent and serious errors in grammar. The essay is not in a scholarly citation style.