Historical Nurse Leader (Professional Issues in Nursing)

Paper Rubric

Criteria Excellent Satisfactory Needs Improvement

Introduction  Main topic is stated

 Structure of paper is described

(5 points)

 Main topic is stated but gives reader little idea of what to expect in the paper

(4 points)

 Vague, no main topic introduced; does not give reader an idea of what to expect in the

paper

 May begin with a rhetorical question or an anecdote that is never fully explained.

(1-3 points)

Content  Writing is focused on the main topic.

 Meets all criteria given for the paper.

 Adds insight to the subject not provided in lectures, readings, or class discussions.

 Presents subject accurately and completely while synthesizing knowledge and relating

to material not covered in the course.

(19-20 points)

 Writing is relevant to the main topic.

 Meets most criteria given for the paper.

 Does not add much new insight into the subject; communicates knowledge from

class clearly to others.

 Mostly accurate and complete – there are some unclear components.

(17-18 points)

 Writing attempts to address the main topic but fails.

 Meets some of the criteria given for the paper.

 Is vague and incomplete – components are missing, inaccurate, or unclear.

(1-16 points)

Conclusion  Conclusion is clearly stated; ties the paper together by summarizing main topics.

 Stimulates reader to draw an opposing thought to topic presented.

(9-10 points)

 Conclusion is somewhat clear; summarizes the main topics.

 Does not stimulate any opposing thoughts or ideas on the topic presented.

(7-8 points)

 Conclusion unclear or only restates main topic.

 Does not completely summarize major topics.

(1-6 points)

Format  Paper is coherently organized.

 Logic is easy to follow.

 No spelling or grammatical errors

 Terminology is clearly defined.

 Writing is clear and concise.

(5 points)

 Paper is generally well organized

 Is mostly easy to follow.

 < 5 minor spelling or grammatical errors

 Terms are not clearly defined.

 Writing is mostly clear but may lack conciseness.

(4 points)

 Paper is poorly organized and difficult to read – does not flow logically from one

part to another.

 ≥ 5 spelling and/or grammatical errors

 Terms not defined or are poorly defined.

 Writing lacks clarity and conciseness.

(1-3 points)

APA  No APA errors.

 Evidence is used from a wide range of sources and most are beyond sources used

in the course.

(9-10 points)

 < 5 minor APA errors (repeat of same error only counts as 1 error).

 Evidence is used from a limited set of sources; some effort is made to go beyond

material used in course.

(7-8 points)

 ≥ 5 APA errors (repeat of same error only counts as 1 error).

 Evidence used only includes material used in the course.

(1-6 points)

**Plagiarism = 0 points in all areas