scientific paper

Components

Outstanding

Good

Average

Below Average

Title

· Is descriptive of question and work performed

· Includes dependent variable, independent variable and organism studied

· Gives a general description of question and work performed

· Missing one of the following: dependent variable, independent variable and organism studied

· Is present

· Missing two of the following: dependent variable, independent variable and organism studied

· Not present

Abstract

· States clearly question being asked

· Gives hypothesis being tested

· Highlights most important findings with enough information to understand experiments

· States major findings and conclusions

· Is a concise summary of question and findings

· Is missing one component of good abstract

· Abstract is not well organized or concise.

· Is missing two components of a good abstract

· Does not give an overview that leads directly to the reader being able to state the major findings of the study

· Is missing three or more components of a good abstract

· Is not written in a scientific style

· Includes references in abstract

Introduction

· Demonstrates that student has outstanding understanding of the research subject matter

· Provides the reader with the necessary information to understand the present study

· Piques the readers interest and makes the importance of the question real

· Gives appropriate information to previous studies that has an impact on the current study

· Does not contain superfluous information and/or is not wordy

· Gives a description of the specific purpose of the study, a description of the hypothesis being tested and a brief summary of the experimental strategy being used at the end of the introduction

· Gives a description of the study system and why it is appropriate to use it to answer hypothesis

· Demonstrates that student has good understanding of the research subject matter

· Contains some superfluous information

· Does not pique the interest of the reader

· Is missing some needed background information

· Gives too much information--more like a summary

· Has all the components of a good introduction but  some parts may be difficult to understand

· Gives a description of the study system with some comment on its appropriate use

· Demonstrates that student has average understanding of the research subject matter

· Is missing  one or two components of a good introduction

· Contains significant superfluous information

· Gives a description of the study system

· Does not demonstrate that student has an average understanding of the research subject matter

· Is missing needed information to understand the present study or is

· Is missing a description of the specific purpose of the study, a description of the hypothesis being tested and a brief summary of the experimental strategy being used at the end of the introduction

· Contains no information about the study system

Materials and Methods

· Describes how the experiment was performed with sufficient detail to enable another scientist to repeat the experiment and obtain the same results

· Presents easy-to-follow steps which are logical and adequately detailed without including standard procedures that all scientist know how to do

· Describes how the experiment was performed with sufficient detail to enable another scientist to repeat the experiment and obtain the same results

· Most steps are understandable but some lack detail or are confusing

· Describes how the experiment was performed with some critical details are lacking

· Most steps are understandable but some lack detail or are confusing

· Is lacking several critical details so that it is impossible to repeat the experiments described

· Many steps are missing in describing steps in an experiment

Results

· All pertinent data is described

· Raw unprocessed data is absent

· Results presented as both narrative text and in figures and tables 

· Data presented in a logical manner to enable the reader to draw conclusions

· Important data is highlighted

· No conclusions are present

· All tables and figures have appropriate legends

· All tables and figures are described in the narrative text

· All pertinent data is described

· Raw unprocessed data is absent

· Most results presented as both narrative text and in figures and tables

· Most data presented in a logical manner to enable the reader to draw conclusions

· Most important data is highlighted

· All tables and figures have appropriate legends

· All tables and figures are described in the narrative text

· Most pertinent data is described

· Raw unprocessed data is absent

· Most results presented as both narrative text and in figures and tables

· Most data presented in a logical manner to enable the reader to draw conclusions

· Most important data is highlighted

· Most of the tables and figures have appropriate legends

· Most tables and figures are described in the narrative text

· Raw unprocessed data is present

· Some results presented as both narrative text and in figures and tables

· Data not clearly presented

· Important data not highlighted 

· Data in tables or figures not described in narrative form

Discussion/

Conclusions

· Question and hypothesis restated

· Conclusions are stated clearly with explicit reference to the data that support a conclusion

· Argument for conclusions well organized

· Importance of conclusions discussed

· Conclusions related to other studies and put into a context of current knowledge

· Clear differentiation between speculations and conclusions

· Final paragraph states the major finding of the study (the take home message)

· Conclusions are stated clearly with explicit reference to the data that support a conclusion

· Argument for conclusions  is generally well organized

· Importance of conclusions discussed

· Conclusions related to other studies and put into a context of current knowledge

· Final paragraph states the major finding of the study (the take home message)

· Conclusions are stated clearly with reference to the data that support a conclusion

· Argument for the conclusions can be understood but difficult to follow

· Final paragraph states the major finding of the study (the take home message)

· Conclusions are stated  but without sufficient reference to the results that support it.

· Lacking several of the characters of a good discussion

References

· All cited sources present

· No references not cited in the body present

· In appropriate format

· References all highly relevant

· All cited sources present

· In appropriate format

· References relevant and appropriate

· Most cited sources present

· Generally in appropriate format

· References relevant and appropriate

· Many sources absent

· Inappropriate format

· References not most relevant/appropriate to study

Grammar and mechanics

· Paragraphs well organized

· Sections with logical organization of paragraphs (especially introduction, results and conclusions)

· Few grammatical errors, typos and misspellings

· Appropriate word selection

· Correct use of scientific terms

· Most paragraphs well organized

· Sections with logical organization of paragraphs (especially introduction, results and conclusions)

· Several grammatical errors, typos, and misspelling may be present

· Some misappropriate word useage errors (effect vs. affect)

· Some misuse of scientific terms

· Many paragraphs well organized

· Several grammatical errors, typos, and misspelling may be present

· Paper lacks well organized paragraphs

· Sections do not contain information presented in a logical order

· Many grammatical errors

· Many misappropriate word useage errors (e.g., effect vs. affect)

· Many misuses of scientific terms