geography essay

Points for Grammar and Punctuation: Maximum 10 points

Minor errors 0.2

Major errors 0.4

Egregious errors 1.0

Points for Organization: Maximum 15 points

Excellent 13.5-15

Paper includes an introduction that introduces the geographic tradition selected, through a brief explanation of the tradition’s primary focus and the three articles reviewed, including the articles’ authors. This is followed by the paragraphs that contain descriptions of the articles covered in the paper. The article and its primary topic are introduced early in the paragraph, followed by descriptions of at least three interesting things that the student learned in the articles, but in a non-intrusive way (i.e., it does not read like a “laundry list”). There is a conclusion that wraps up the paper, and provides comments on the usefulness of one or both website(s) for educational purposes. Also includes a list of references at the end that uses the proper reference style, as listed in the instructions for the written assignment.

Very good 12-13.5

Paper includes the elements contained in a paper that receives an excellent, with only a few minor exceptions.

Moderate 10.5-12

Paper includes most of the elements contained in a paper that receives an excellent, with one or two poorly organized sections.

Poor 9.0-12

The paper contains several organizational flaws that begin to adversely affect reader comprehension of the articles and concepts discussed within the paper.

Very poor 7.5-9.0

Organizational flaws are numerous enough to make it difficult to read the paper. The conclusion is only one sentence, or is the equivalent to saying “I liked the articles and/or the website” or “I did not like the articles and/or the website.”

Unsatisfactory 0-7.5

The articles are ineffectively covered, the articles and primary topic are not introduced in the introduction, and the paragraphs are so poorly organized that it is difficult to tell what the writer is discussing. There is no conclusion.

Points for Area of Study or Tool/Technique Selected: Maximum 10 points

Excellent

Student names, and thoroughly describes, the selected area of study, and

provides ample evidence on how each article fits into that area of study 9.0-10.0

Good

Student names and describes the selected area of study, and provides at least

some evidence of how each article fits into that area of study 8.0-9.0

Adequate

Student adequately describes area of study, but does not provide

sufficient evidence of how each article fits into that area of study 6.0-8.0

Poor

Student does not adequately describe area of study, and provides

no evidence of how the article fits within that area of study 5.0-6.0

Poor

Student does not describe tradition selected, selects the wrong area

of study for the selected articles, and/or does not provide any link

between the articles and the tradition 0.0-5.0

Points for including the names of the articles: Maximum 10 points

Excellent

Student clearly mentions the article names, authors’ names, and

provides a properly formatted list of citations at the end of the paper. 9.0-10.0

Good

Students’ paper mentions article names, authors’ names and provides

list of citations, with minor exceptions to criteria for receiving an excellent. 8.0-9.0

Adequate

Student provides most of the items required for a good to excellent, but does

not mention the articles in the introduction, mentions the articles, but not the

authors, or provides an improperly formatted list of references. 7.0-8.0

Poor

Student leaves out several items required to receive a good to excellent. 6.0-7.0

Inadequate

Student mentions neither the articles' names, nor the authors. Scores greater

than zero may be assigned if other evidence is provided concerning article titles

and/or author names. 0.0-6.0

Maximum 15 points

Points for three things learned from each of the selected articles

Excellent

The articles and the topics are clearly described, and the student

does an exemplary job of integrating the three things learned from the

articles into a brief summary of the articles, and of the topics that they cover. 13.5-15

Good

The articles and topics are described, with minor exceptions. 12.0-13.5

Adequate

The articles and the topics are clearly described, but the student does

an average job of integrating the three things learned from the articles

into the summary of the articles, and of the topics that they cover. 10.5-12.0

Poor

The articles and the topics covered are incompletely described, and the

student does a minimal job of integrating the three things learned from

the articles into the summary of the articles, and of the topics that they cover. 9.0-10.5

Unsatisfactory

The articles and the topics are incompletely described, the student does not

provide at least three things that were learned, and/or the student's description

of the three things learned reads like a laundry list of things that need to be

checked off. 0-7.5

Maximum 15 points

Points for Site Review

Excellent

Student provides a thorough review of the website and its contents,

plus provides a well-considered assessment of the website’s and its contents’

educational potential. 13.5-15.0

Good

Students provides a review of the website and its contents and provides an

assessment of the website’s and its contents’ educational potential, with

minor exceptions.

Adequate

Student provides an adequate review of the site(s) and its/their contents,

and comments on its educational potential, but the assessment is limited

to how much s/he likes using the website, and/or whether s/he would use

it in the future, without assessing its use as a teaching tool for educators. 10.5-12.0

Poor

Student provides a poor review of the website and its contents, and provides

little to no information about its educational potential, whether for his/her own

purposes, or as a teaching tool for educators. 9.0-10.5

Unsatisfactory

Student provides little to no review of the site or its contents, nor does s/he

mention anything about its/their educational potential. 0-7.5

Total Possible Points: 75 points