History writing

Rubric for Primary Source Essays Course: Survey United States Hist II - HIST-2020-010

Criteria Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Criterion Score

Thesis

Statement

/ 1515 points

Contains a clear

and provable

thesis that fully

answers the

essay question.

Thesis is located

at the end of the

introductory

paragraph.

Thesis is free of

awkward or

unclear phrases.

12 points

Contains a

reasonable thesis

that fully

addresses the

essay question.

Thesis is located

at the end of the

introductory

paragraph.

10 points

Attempts a

thesis, but may

not fully address

the essay

question.

Thesis may not

appear in the

introduction.

Thesis may

contain unclear

language that

makes it hard to

understand.

Thesis may offer

an argument that

the student

cannot fully

prove with the

evidence from

our course.

7 points

Does not

attempt a thesis.

Criteria Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Criterion Score

Analysis / 2525 points

Every single

paragraph offers

clear and

reasonable

analysis that

directly supports

the thesis.

Every single

paragraph

synthesizes

available

evidence to

support thesis.

Makes concise

connection to

historical

context.

Contains original

ideas that are

fully developed.

Free of serious

factual errors.

23 points

Most paragraphs

offer clear and

reasonable

analysis that

directly supports

the thesis.

Connects some

evidence to

thesis.

Makes

connections to

historical

context.

Offers original

ideas.

Largely free of

factual errors or

generalizations

18 points

Attempts some

analysis.

May rely on annotated lists or summaries of available sources.

May discuss

topics that are

not connected to

the thesis.

May contain

more quoted

information than

analysis.

May make some

factual errors.

15 points

Does not analyze

its information.

Essay may be

driven forward

by opinion

statements.

May consist of

randomly chosen

information with

no explanation

and minimal

connection to

the paper

assignment.

May make

numerous factual

errors that

contradict our

readings and our

discussion

forums.

Criteria Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Criterion Score

Evidence / 2525 points

Carefully selects

a variety of

evidence from all

available

readings that

best support its

thesis.

Uses the

required number

of sources

specified in

assignment.

Always explains

the evidence and

connects it to

the thesis. Every

body paragraph

contains

significant

evidence.

23 points

Includes

evidence from

available sources.

Uses the

required number

of sources

specified in

assignment.

Includes

significant

evidence that

supports its

thesis.

Explains most of

the evidence it

cites.

18 points

Incorporates

some evidence.

May rely heavily

on few sources

or does not meet

the requirement

for sources.

May use block

quotes (i.e. a

quote over two

sentences long)

May not fully

explain the

evidence it cites.

15 points

Does not contain

sufficient

evidence.

May only use a

single source or

no sources.

May consist

largely of block

quotes (i.e. a

quote over two

sentences long).

May not explain

the evidence it

cites.

May not provide

page numbers

for citations.

Criteria Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Criterion Score

Organization / 1515 points

Contains a

powerful

introduction and

conclusion that

avoid

generalizations

or overly broad

statements (such

as "throughout

history..."

All body

paragraphs

contain topic

sentences.

Each body

paragraph

contains only

information that

relates to the

topic sentence.

Free of

repetition.

12 points

Organized into

paragraphs of

similar length.

Contains a

developed

introduction and

conclusion.

Most body

paragraphs

contain topic

sentences.

Most body

paragraphs

contain only

information that

relates to the

topic sentence.

A few paragraphs

may be hard to

follow.

Largely free of

repetition.

10 points

Organized into

paragraphs.

Contains an

introduction and

conclusion.

Some body

paragraphs

contain topic

sentences.

Paragraphs often

contain content

that does not

relate to the

topic sentence.

Paragraph length

may vary

significantly.

Some paragraphs

may be hard to

follow.

May jump from

topic to topic.

May be

repetitive.

7 points

Contains serious

flaws in

organization,

such as:

Not organized

into paragraphs.

Missing an

introduction or

conclusion.

The paragraphs

are only a few

sentences long.

Does not use

topic sentences.

Hard to follow.

Jumps suddenly

from topic to

topic.

Frequently

repetitive.

No bibliography.

Criteria Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Criterion Score

Writing / 1515 points

Shows clear

command of the

English language

and college-level

writing.

Contains no

significant typos,

spelling or

grammar errors.

Free of awkward

language, poor

choice of words,

or unclear

phrasing.

Employs college-

level language

and understands

every single

word it uses.

The essay is free

of overly long,

bulky sentences.

The essay could

be read and

understood by

anyone at MTSU.

12 points

Shows a firm

grasp of English

language and

college-level

writing.

Contains only

minor and

infrequent typos,

spelling errors,

and grammatical

mistakes.

Contains only a

few instances of

awkward

language, poor

choice of words,

or unclear

phrasing.

The essay

employs college-

level language.

The essay could

be read and

understood by

anyone at MTSU.

10 points

Needs significant

revision.

Contains spelling

errors.

Contains

grammatical

errors.

Sometimes

unclear or

incoherent.

Misuses words.

May be hard to

understand for

an outside

reader.

7 points

Has serious and

consistent flaws.

Contains

numerous

spelling errors.

Contains

numerous

grammatical

errors

Often unclear or

incoherent.

Total / 100

Criteria Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Criterion Score

Outstanding

Effort

/ 55 points

These five points

are reserved for

essays that meet

all the

requirements and

formatting

specifications of

the assignment

as well as the

criteria of above

categories for

full points in

each criteria.

These five points

for outstanding

effort are

awarded to

essays that show

originality by:

creative writing

techniques,

and/or synthesis

of course

materials and

content, or

concise and

thorough

historical

writing. These

essays go

beyond the

criteria for an A

on the essay.

0 points 0 points 0 points

Overall Score

Level 4 95 points minimum

Level 3 82 points minimum

Level 2 66 points minimum

Level 1 51 points minimum