You must include textual evidence from the readings throughout your analysis. All in-text citations should follow MLA format, and all three works all must be cited using MLA format on your Works Cited page. Your support for your argument should come only

Criteria

10 Points

7 Points

5 Points

2 Points

Format and Organization

Research paper is double spaced, follows the appropriate heading, includes a creative title that accurately demonstrates content of paper; ideas are arranged logically and support the purpose; ideas flow smoothly from one to another and are clearly linked; reader can easily follow the line of reasoning

Research paper is double spaced, follows appropriate format, includes a general title; ideas are arranged logically to support purpose; ideas are usually clearly linked to each other; for the most part, reader can follow the line of reasoning

Research paper is double-spaced, but is missing components in the heading or does not include an appropriate title; the writing contains some lapses in organization, occasionally ideas fail to connect; the reader is somewhat clear about what the writer intends

Research paper is single-spaced and is missing a title, heading does not follow the required format; writing is not logically organized, ideas fail to connect or make sense in the order listed; the reader cannot identify the line of reasoning and loses interest

Content

Balanced presentation of relevant and legitimate information that clearly supports central purpose or argument and shows a thoughtful, in-depth analysis of the assigned topic; reader gains important insights

Information provides reasonable support for central purpose or argument and displays evidence of a basic analysis of the assigned topic; reader gains some insights

Information supports a central purpose of argument at times. Analysis is basic or general; reader gains few insights

Central purpose or argument is not clearly identified. Analysis is vague and general; reader is confused or misinformed, does not gain insight on assigned topic

Purpose

The writer’s purpose or argument is readily apparent to the reader and is effectively and thoroughly introduced to the reader in the opening of the research paper; paper remains efficiently focused on the stated purpose

The writer’s purpose or argument is apparent to the reader and is introduced to the reader in the opening of the research paper; paper often remains fixed on the stated purpose

The writer’s purpose or argument is somewhat apparent to the reader; is introduced to the reader but does not appear in the appropriate placer; paper strays at times from the stated purpose

The writer’s purpose or argument is unclear to the reader; paper contains lapses in organization and content because it lacks a purpose or point

Supportive Evidence and Examples

Supportive evidence is effective and exceptionally convincing, relevant, and consistent in supporting the purpose or thesis of the paper;

Supportive evidence is effective and mostly convincing, relevant, and for the most part remains consistent in supporting the purpose or thesis of the paper;

Supportive evidence is somewhat convincing, and relevant; for the most part, consistency of examples does not remain consistent

Supportive evidence is ineffective, unconvincing, and irrelevant; paper lacks consistency and does not focus on the purpose of thesis of the paper

Mechanics

Control of grammar, no lapses in language; paper is almost entirely free of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors

Paper may contain few lapses in language; may contain few spelling, punctuation, and/or grammatical errors

Contains several errors in spelling, punctuation and/or grammar, which distract the reader from the paper’s content

Paper contains so many mechanical errors that the paper cannot be understood by the reader

Criteria

10 Points

7 Points

5 Points

2 Points

Sentence Structure and Word Choice

Sentences are clear, active, and to the point; sentences are well-phrased, vary in length and structure, and flow smoothly from one to another. Word choice is specific, purposeful, dynamic, and varied; selection of words is consistently precise and accurate

Sentences are mostly clear, active, and to the point; sentences are well-phrased with some variety in length and structure, and generally flow smoothly from one to another. Word choice is specific and purposeful, and somewhat varied throughout paper; selection of words is generally good, the writer goes beyond the generic words to find those more precise and effective

Sentences are somewhat unclear, wordy, and awkwardly phrased so the reader is occasionally confused or distracted; few sentence are connected to one another. Word choice is often unspecific, generic, redundant, and cliched; selection of words is merely adequate, and the range of words used is limited; some words are used inappropriately

Sentences are very unclear with several errors in sentence structure; errors are frequent, becoming a major distraction to the reader. Word choice is excessively redundant, cliched, and unspecific; many words are used inappropriately, confusing the reader

Parenthetical Citations

All outside information that is not common knowledge or the author’s original thought is accurately cited using appropriate MLA parenthetical citations; all citations are correctly placed and punctuated.

Most of the outside information that is not common knowledge or the author’s original thought is accurately cited using appropriate MLA parenthetical citations; most citations are correctly placed and punctuated, but one or two citations might contain mistakes.

Most of the outside information that is not common knowledge or the author’s original thought is inaccurately cited; most citations are incorrectly placed and with mistakes in punctuation. .

References are seldom cited to support statements.Author has no understanding of MLA in-text citations.

Works Cited Page

All entries conform to MLA rules of formatting; citations are correct in ordering, punctuation, include all necessary information, appear in alphabetical order, and contain no mistakes

Most entries conform to MLA rules of formatting; citations are mostly correct in ordering, punctuation, include most of the necessary information, appear in alphabetical order, but contain a few mistakes

Entries contain frequent errors in MLA formatting; citations do not follow proper order of information or are missing components; citations do not appear in alphabetical order, and contain several mistakes

Entries demonstrate a complete lack of MLA formatting, and contains numerous errors that interfere with the reader’s identification of use resources