Secondry source history essay

Student selected a peer-reviewed academic article in the history field or in a closely related field

5.0 pts

Student chose a text that was not a peer-reviewed academic article in the history field

0.0 pts

Student informed reader of what the text was titled, who wrote it, when and where it was published, and what it was about

10.0 pts

Student provides some information on the article, but crucial information is left out or the student made significant errors

5.0 pts

Student failed to complete this part of the assignment

0.0 pts

Student correctly identifies the author's argument, including its specific focus and limits

15.0 pts

Student identifies the general topic and direction of the article, but neglects the specific such as limits and focus

10.0 pts

Student identifies topic, but fails to identify argument or misidentifies argument

5.0 pts

Student failed to complete this part of the assignment

0.0 pts

Student identifies the broader debate that the author engages and explains how the article fits into that debate

15.0 pts

Student identifies a debate that the author engages, but does not explain well how the article contributes to that debate

10.0 pts

Student identifies a topic rather than a debate, and.or student misidentifies the debate that the author is trying to engage with

5.0 pts

Student failed to complete this part of the assignment

0.0 pts

Student identifies specific sources and/or specific kinds of sources that the author uses; student discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using these kinds of sources

15.0 pts

Student identifies sources in general terms (primary vs. secondary, for example); student may or may not discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using these sources

10.0 pts

Student identifies the sources in general terms and does not discuss the advantages of using particular kinds of sources; or student misidentifies the sources being used

5.0 pts

Student failed to complete this part of the assignment

0.0 pts

Student identifies one strength and one weakness of the article (argument, sources, methods) and explains clearly how these strengths and weaknesses affect the value of the article

15.0 pts

Student identifies one strength and one weakness of the article, but may not provide a clear explanation of how they affect the value of the article

10.0 pts

Student identifies one strength or one weakness, but is very vague both in identifying this strength or weakness and explaining why it is important.

5.0 pts

Student failed to complete this part of the assignment

0.0 pts

Student answers all questions posed in part 6 of the assignment and provides an historical question that could serve as the basis for further exploration of the article's topic

15.0 pts

Student answers all questions posed in part 6 of the assignment, but provides a question that is not historical or that is normative rather than analytic

10.0 pts

Student fails to answer one or more of the questions posed in part 6

5.0 pts

Student failed to complete this part of the assignment

0.0 pts

Student cites his/her sources using properly-formatted footnotes

5.0 pts

Student fails to use footnotes, uses them inappropriately and/or does not use a proper footnoting format

0.0 pts

Paper is written in academic style and grammar and spelling errors are kept to a minimum

5.0 pts

Paper is composed in an informal or nonacademic style and/or spelling and grammar errors interfere with the reader's ability to understand the text

0.0 pts