English

A

B

C

D - F

F

Research Question

20 points

18-20

Question is open-ended and appropriate to guide qualitative research.

16-18

Question is open-ended and appropriate but not clearly articulated.

14-15

Question articulated but EITHER is inappropriate for the assignment OR is not open-ended.

14-1

Question articulated but is inappropriate for the assignment AND is not open-ended.

0

No question articulated.

Thesis

20 points

18-20

Thesis provides a clear answer to the research question.

16-18

Thesis provides an answer to the question but is not clearly articulated.

14-15

Thesis provides an argument on the topic but displays no obvious connection to the research question.

14-1

Thesis states unarguable facts, no argument.

0

No answer/thesis in evidence.

Research-based evidence

20 points

18-20

Findings section presents research results clearly. Discussion section explains the meaning and relevance of those results in a way that supports the thesis.

16-18

Findings and discussion sections presents some research results but lacks detail and / or connection to thesis.

14-15

Findings and / or discussion section is missing detailed evidence from qualitative research AND completely lacks connection to thesis.

14-1

Findings section presents research results as evidence, but research results are completely lacking from discussion section.

0

No research / evidence provided. Discussion completely lacks reference to qualitative research results.

Secondary sources

10 points

9-10

Paper provides credible secondary sources to establish a reason for asking the research question and to provide background info on the topic. Sources are integrated properly and explained.

8-9

Paper provides credible secondary sources to establish a reason for asking the research question and to provide background info on the topic. But sources are not integrated properly and/or explained.

7-8

Paper provides secondary sources to establish a reason for asking the research question and to provide background info on the topic. But sources are not credible.

7-1

Paper provides secondary sources to establish a reason for asking the research question and to provide background info on the topic. But sources are neither credible nor integrated properly and explained.

0

Paper does not include secondary sources.

Organization

10 points

9-10

Paper uses the proper framework for qualitative research papers, including subheadings. Each section of the paper includes the appropriate information for that section as well as clear topic sentences.

8-9

Paper uses the proper framework. Each section of the paper includes the appropriate information for that section and clear topic sentences but lacks heading titles

7-8

Paper uses the proper framework for qualitative research papers, including subheadings. Each section of the paper includes the appropriate information for that section but lacks heading titles and/or clear topic sentences.

7-1

Paper uses the proper framework for qualitative research papers. However, information appears in the wrong sections of the paper.

0

The paper does not use the appropriate framework for a qualitative research paper.

Citation

10 points

9-10

Sources are cited correctly in the document and on the reference page.

8-9

Sources are cited, but there are a few errors in the format.

7-8

Sources are cited, but there are several errors in the format.

7-1

Some of the sources are not cited and / or the format is incorrect.

0

Sources are not cited at all/format is not correct.

Formatting

5 points

5

Paper correctly follows APA formatting, including a title page, abstract, header, page numbers, and reference page.

4

Paper is mostly correctly formatted.

3

Paper exhibits many errors in APA formatting.

2-1

APA formatting is attempted, but several elements are missing or incorrect.

0

APA is not attempted.

Writing Fluency

5 points

5

Skillful writing fluency exhibits few or no mechanical errors.

4

Reasonable writing fluency exhibits few mechanical errors.

3

Writing fluency is lacking, exhibits several mechanical errors.

2-1

Minimal writing fluency exhibits numerous mechanical errors.

0

Writing is not fluent— unreadable.