Question

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Rubric for Research Paper Assignment

I. Formatting, Editing, and Grammar

Poor - Excellent 1. Overall the paper is written well __________ 2. Paper is properly proof read and edited __________ 3. Requirements in the syllabus regarding paper & formatting are met: a. Title or Cover page is used __________ b. Introduction or abstract is used __________ c. One-inch margins are used, and the text is double-spaced __________ d. Page numbering is used __________ e. Paper is the required pages in length __________ f. Section headings and subheadings are used __________ g. Direct quotations, statistics, and other specific information are properly cited __________ h. Bibliography or sources cited page is included & correct __________ i. Adequate number of sources were consulted for the paper __________ j. Paper reflects adequate research and preparation __________ k. Sentence and paragraph structure are correct __________ l. Word choice, word tense and grammar are correct __________ m. Punctuation and capitalization are correct __________

II. Content of the Research Paper Poor - Excellent

a. Paper provides an adequate discussion of the topic: __________ a. Topic of paper correspond to the assignment given ? __________ b. Paper reflects a good understanding by student of the topic? __________ c. Students understanding of the topic adequate for this grade level? __________ d. Analysis is not superficial, but instead reflects a serious effort to reflect upon insights __________ 2. Grade for this paper: ____________________ General Comments about Formatting, Grammar, and Editing: Assignments must be submitted typed (12-point font), double-spaced, with standard one-inch

margins, and well-edited. You MUST USE a title page, an introduction or abstract, a

bibliography or sources cited page, page numbers, and where appropriate, headings and

subheadings. Title pages are not numbered and the first page after the title page is page number

one. Please adhere to the page limitations (both minimums and maximums) when established for

assignments. Major sections should be clearly titled, and section headings should be in bold. I

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strongly encourage you to use descriptive subheadings. Subheadings can be very useful to help

guide the reader through your paper. These headings tell the reader what you think this section,

page, or few paragraphs contribute to the paper.

Here are three problem areas I frequently see in student papers. You should note that: (1) Direct

quotations always include page numbers. (2) Punctuation other than exclamation points and

question marks are placed inside quotation marks. (3) It’s is a contraction for it is; in contrast, the

possessive case of the pronoun it, is its. You will want to work hard at making your written work

easy to read. Avoid the use of long awkward sentences. Make your point simply, directly, and

completely. Papers should have a professional tone, serious, yet interesting. Avoid the use of

humor or slang. People should want to read this paper. Nobody–other than me–will read your

work if it is sloppy, poorly edited, convoluted, and obtuse and I will not be happy about reading

it. It’s my job to read your paper, but future readers will have a choice. Be sure to provide a

reference if you use detailed information such as numbers and other statistics. The rule of thumb

is that information that is not commonly known requires a citation, unless you generated it

yourself. (In this case, other people will cite your paper in the future as the source of this

information.)