Week 4 Assignment: Formal Research Paper

Mastery Proficiency Competency Needs Improvement Unacceptable

Develops an appropriate and organized research topic through all stages of the writing process

Effectively applies the principles of the writing process to compose a well- balanced essay. Uses appropriate, relevant, and compelling content to illustrate mastery of the subject, conveying the writer's understanding, and shaping the whole work.

Effectively applies the principles of the writing process to compose a balanced essay. Uses appropriate, relevant content to explore ideas within the context of the discipline and shape the work.

Applies the principles of the writing process to compose a balanced essay. Uses appropriate and relevant content to develop and explore ideas through most of the work.

Demonstrates some understanding of writing process. Content is uneven in presentation. Development is weak.

Does not not meet requirements or there was no submission.

Synthesizes source material critically, strategically, and proportionately.

Demonstrates skillful use of credible, academic, relevant sources to develop ideas that are appropriate for the topic and strengthen the argument.

Demonstrates consistent use of credible, relevant academic sources to support ideas that are relevant to the topic and support the argument.

Demonstrates an attempt to use credible and/or relevant sources to support the argument and are appropriate for the topic.

Demonstrates an attempt to use sources to support ideas in the writing. Sources may lack relevancy or use may be disproportional.

Does not not meet requirements or there was no submission.

Applies current research to create context and focus to argument in an extended essay.

Demonstrates a thorough understanding of context, audience, and purpose that focuses all elements of the work on the main goal.

Demonstrates adequate consideration of context, audience, and purpose with a clear focus on the main goal.

Demonstrates awareness of context, audience, purpose with adequate focus on the main goal.

Demonstrates minimal attention to context, audience, purpose. Main goal is present but lacks focus.

Does not not meet requirements or there was no submission.

Illustrates a comprehensive understanding of APA format

Demonstrates mastery of APA format standards with no errors.

Demonstrates skillful application of APA format standards with few errors.

Demonstrates understanding of APA format standards with minor errors (less than five)

Shows some understanding of APA format standards. Errors are frequent (more than five)

Does not not meet requirements or there was no submission.

Grammar and mechanics

Uses graceful language that skillfully

Uses appropriate language that generally conveys

Uses language that generally conveys meaning to readers

Uses language that sometimes impedes

Does not not meet requirements or there was no submission.

communicates meaning to readers with clarity and fluency, and is virtually error-free.

meaning to readers with few errors.

with clarity, although writing may include errors.

meaning because of errors in usage.

Style and Tone Writing uses academic language, objective tone, and is consistent throughout the essay.

Writing uses academic language, objective tone with minor inconsistencies.

Writing attempts use of academic language, and objective tone. Casual language is evident. Inconsistencies mark the essay.

Communicates with clarity but lacks formal or academic language. Objective voice is not consistent

Does not not meet requirements or there was no submission.

Reductions for word count is equal to the percentage of omission. A 10% penalty would be applied to a a submission that is 200 words below the

2000-word requirement.