History Research Paper

History 1121 Global History to 1500

Rubric for Research Paper Assignment

CATEGORY

EXCELLENT

GOOD

FAIR

POOR

Title

--Captivating & informative title with optional subtitle

--Title page with complete information on names, class, & date

--Informative title with optional subtitle

--Title page with basic information on names, class, & date

--General title without a title page

--Unfocused title, title not correlated with thesis, or no title

Introduction & Thesis

--Clearly introduces the main topic & structure of the paper

--Clearly & concisely states the paper’s thesis that is engaging & thought- provoking

--Introduces the main topic & structure of the paper

--Clearly states the paper’s thesis

--Limited introduction of the main topic & structure of the paper

--States the paper’s thesis

--No clear introduction

--Incomplete, unfocused, or missing thesis statement

Main Body & Length

--Paragraphs with logical structure, thoughtful arguments & sufficient historical facts that develop the main thesis

--Paper is three or more pages long (excluding title page and bibliography)

--Paragraphs with organized arguments & historical facts that support the main thesis

--Paper is three or nearly four pages long (excluding title page and bibliography)

--Paragraphs with limited arguments & historical facts that support the main thesis

--Paper is at least two pages long (excluding title page and bibliography)

--Paragraphs with minimum historical facts & fail to support the thesis

--Paper is less than two pages long (excluding title page and bibliography)

--Paper is copied or plagiarized from web or other sources

Writing

--Paper is virtually error free in sentence structure & word usage

--Paper is virtually error free in spelling & punctuation

--Paper contains limited errors in sentence structure & word usage

--Paper contains limited errors in spelling & punctuation

--Paper contains many errors in sentence structure & word usage

--Paper contains many errors in spelling & punctuation

--Paper contains numerous & distracting errors in sentence structure & word usage

--Paper contains numerous & distracting errors in spelling & punctuation

Bibliography &

Citation

--Three or more major references with no more than two websites

--Prepared in virtually correct and consistent Chicago or MLA format

--Citations in in-text, foot or end notes are not required but highly encouraged

--Three or more references

--Prepared in consistent Chicago or MLA format with limited errors

--Citations in in-text, foot or end notes are not required but highly encouraged

--At least two references

--Prepared in random format with many errors

--Only one or no references