Rubric

Criteria

Unsatisfactory

(0 pts)

Less than Satisfactory

(.75 pts)

Satisfactory

(1.0 pts)

Good

(1.5 pts)

Excellent

(2.1 pts)

Introduction: Establishes importance of the issue and purpose

Paper lacks any discernable overall purpose or organization.

Thesis/main claim are apparent and appropriate to the purpose.

Thesis/main claim are apparent and appropriate to purpose.

Thesis/main claim are clear. It is descriptive and reflective of arguments and appropriate to purpose.

Thesis and/or main claim are comprehensive. Thesis statement makes purpose clear.

States significance of the study for agency and field of social work

Overview of value of study is disorganized, incomplete, or not comprehensible. Overview omits key information about agency and clients.

Overview of value of study is disorganized, incomplete, or not comprehensible. Overview omits key information about agency and clients.

Overview of value of study is minimally descriptive and partially explains relevance. Overview is too broad and provides little information about client population.

Overview of value of study is clear. Overview provides detailed background of agency and its clients.

Overview of study is clear and descriptive with an explanation of relevance. Overview provides detailed background of agency and its clients with examples.

States research question and why it should be studied

Research question is missing. Paper lacks any discernible purpose.

Research question is not well developed. Purpose and importance are not developed well or vague/unclear.

Research question is appropriate. Purpose and importance are apparent and appropriate.

Research question is well thought out. Purpose and importance are clear and reflective of arguments and appropriate.

Research question is well thought out. Purpose and importance are clear, comprehensive, and reflective of arguments.

States how researcher plans to methodologically approach the study

Plan for methodology is not addressed at all.

Reference to methodology is minimal or unclear.

Reference to methodology is too broad.

Reference to methodology is clear.

Reference to methodology is thought out and clearly articulated.

Mechanics of writing

Errors impede communication. Inappropriate word choice and/or sentence construction are used.

Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors that is distracting. Inconsistent language choice, sentence structure, and/or word choice are present

Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are used.

Prose is mostly free of mechanical errors, although a few are present. A variety of sentence structures and effective figures of speech are used.

Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.

Paper format and APA guidelines

Template is not used appropriately, or documentation format is rarely followed correctly.

Appropriate template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken. A lack of control with formatting is apparent.

Appropriate template is used. Formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present.

Appropriate template is fully used. There are virtually no errors in formatting style.

All APA elements are correct.

Research citations

No reference page is included. No citations are used.

Reference page is present. Citations are inconsistently used.

Reference page is included and lists sources used in the paper. Sources are appropriately documented, although some errors may be present.

Reference page is present and fully inclusive of all cited sources. Documentation is appropriate and citation style is usually correct.

In-text citations and a reference page are complete and correct. The documentation of cited sources is free of error.