History Monograph Response Essay

Dimensions

Exemplary/ High Mastery

Competent/ Average Mastery

Developing/ Low Mastery/ Needs Work

Comments

20-18

17-15

14-11

Communication

of Ideas

20%

Includes creative, original title

Uses an appropriate variety of detailed and accurate supporting evidence is cited, well integrated, and supports the author’s points

Uses quotations appropriately

Sequencing of ideas is logical and effective

Paragraphs are well-focused and coherent

Includes original title

Evidence cited generally detailed and supports the author’s points, but more or greater variety are needed

Quotations generally work but occasionally interfere with the flow of the writing, seem irrelevant, or need more

Sequencing of ideas shows some logic, but it is not under complete control

Paragraphs occasionally lack focus or coherence

Title is either missing or a copy of monograph assigned

Evidence cited is seriously lacking in detail, inaccurate or seems to fail to support the author’s points

Quotations tend to break the flow of the piece, become monotonous or don’t seem to fit, or are missing

Sequencing of ideas seems illogical, disjointed, or forced

Paragraphs generally lack focus or coherence

30-28

27-23

22-18

Critical Thinking

30%

The paper displays insight and originality of thought

There is sound and logical analysis that reveals clear understanding of the relevant issues

There in an appropriate balance of factual reporting, interpretation and analysis, and personal opinion

The author goes beyond the obvious in constructing interpretation of the reading

Applicable and accurate details are used to reinforce the author’s arguments

The paper is convincing and satisfying

Transitions between ideas are thoughtful

There are some original ideas, but others seem elementary

Analysis of the relevant issues

is generally sound, but there are lapses in logic

The balance between factual reporting, interpretation and analysis, and personal opinion seems skewed

Paper shows understanding of relevant issues but lacks depth

Generally accurate details are included but the reader is left with questions—more information is needed to fill in the blanks

The paper leaves the reader vaguely skeptical and unsatisfied

Connections between ideas often work well, but some transitions between ideas are fuzzy

There are few original ideas; most seem obvious or elementary

Analysis is superficial or illogical, the author seems to struggle to understand the relevant issues

There is a clear imbalance among factual reporting, interpretation and analysis, and personal opinion

Author appears to misunderstand or omit key issues

There are few details or most details seem irrelevant

The paper leaves the reader unconvinced

Connections between ideas are confusing or missing

40-36

35-30

29-23

Content

40%

There is a clear thesis

The paper satisfactorily addresses the topic and leaves no important aspect of the topic not addressed

The author fully answers the question

Appropriate significance is assigned to the information presented and irrelevant information is rarely included

Analyses, discussion, and conclusions were explicitly linked to examples, facts, and theories

There is a thesis but it is ambiguous or unfocused

The paper satisfactorily addresses the topic, but more than one important aspect of the topic needs more attention

The author partially answers the question

The paper often used information in a way that is inappropriate to its significance or includes too much irrelevant information

The connection among analyses, discussions, and conclusions is evident or implied, but it is not explicitly linked to examples, facts and theories

There is no clear thesis

The paper needs to be substantially more closely related to the topic and many important aspects of the topic left out

The work seems to be a simple restatement of the assignment or a simple, overly broad answer to the question without substantially answering it

The author has a poor grasp of the relevant information and frequently uses information inappropriately

There is no clear connection among analyses, discussions, and examples, facts and theories

10-9

8-7

6-5

Styling and Citations

10%

Maintains a proper format, APA, MLA or Chicago

Includes “Works Cited” if APA or MLA employed

Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are consistent and correct

Fonts are consistent

Includes page numbers

Employs a proper format although errors, while infrequent, exist

Includes a “Works Cited” page if applicable, but it includes errors

Errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation exist but are infrequent and not serious enough to distort meaning

Fonts are inconsistent

Lacks page numbers

Has no proper format

Has no “Works Cited” page although it is applicable

Errors in grammar and spelling, and punctuation that is missing or incorrect are frequent enough to become distracting and interfere with meaning

Fonts are inconsistent

Lacks page numbers