ARH Research Paper Rubric p. 1
Research Paper Rubric
Grade
Component
Substandard
(F /D)
Minimum/Aver
age
(C- /C+)
Acceptable/G
ood
(B-/B+)
Very
Good/Excell
ent
(A-/A)
1. Accuracy
of Content
Paper has many
factual errors.
Paper has a few
factual errors and/or
some inaccuracies.
Paper is largely
free of factual
errors, and
interpretation of
fact demonstrates
thorough
comprehension of
material.
Information in
paper is
factually
accurate and the
interpretation of
fact is nuanced,
sophisticated,
and consistent.
2. Depth and
comprehension of
content.
Paper incorrectly
interprets art
historical facts.
Paper occasionally
misinterprets the
material, but
attempts to
articulate the
relationship
between the
materials and the
cultural, religious,
political, social
and/or economic
circumstances of
their production.
Paper
demonstrates
comprehension of
the material and
articulates the
relationship
between the
materials and the
cultural,
religious,
political, social
and/or economic
circumstances of
their production.
Paper
demonstrates
profound and
nuanced
comprehension
of the material
and clearly
articulates the
relationship
between the
materials and
the cultural,
religious,
political, social
and/or
economic
circumstances
of their
production.
3. Formal
requirements
Paper is replete
with mechanical
errors.
Relatively few
errors in citation
format and
bibliography.
Paper shows
evidence of
thorough proofreading and
contains properly
formatted
footnotes and
bibliography.
Paper contains
virtually no
mechanical
errors.
Paper is written
in a clear,
persuasive style.
Student writing
is lucid, elegant
and evocative.
Paper does not
meet length
requirements.
Paper meets stated
length
requirements.
Weight
4. Language
Use
Language and
grammatical
errors inhibit
comprehension
Paper is written in a
relatively clear
style, with few
grammatical errors.
ARH Research Paper Rubric p. 2
Weight
5. Paper
Organization
Paper is
disorganized.
Organization/struct
ure of paper is
attempted but not
consistent
throughout.
Organization/
structure of paper
is coherent and
logical.
Structure and
organization of
paper is
coherent, fluid,
sophisticated,
and sustained
throughout the
paper.
Student failed to
use required
number of
sources or
sources to which
student was
directed.
Paper demonstrates
use and general
comprehension of
the required number
of primary and
secondary sources
to which student
was directed by
Professor.
Paper
demonstrates
thoughtful
analysis of
sources and some
independent
research (location
and retrieval of
information from
a variety of
sources).
Paper
demonstrates
that student has
exceeded
research
expectations,
independently
discovering and
analyzing new
primary and/or
secondary
scholarly
materials,
including
foreign
language
materials.
Weight
6.
Demonstrated
Research
Skills
Use of ILL or
other research
libraries.
Weight
7. Use of
sources
Student shows a
lack of
understanding of
assigned
sources.
Student
distinguishes
between primary
and secondary
sources and can use
them appropriately
when directed.
Student
recognizes the
limitations of
certain electronic
and print sources;
student shows a
concomitant
recognition of
appropriate
scholarly sources.
Student
distinguishes
between
information,
interpretation and
opinion in
scholarly writing.
Student has a
sophisticated
understanding
of scholarly
writing and can
identify and
question the
assumptions,
methodology,
and arguments
therein.
ARH Research Paper Rubric p. 3
Weight
8.
Methodology
No methodological approach
ascertainable.
Paper lacks
methodological
clarity.
Student
constructs an
historically valid,
well argued art
historical paper
with somewhat
less sophisticated
awareness of a
methodological
approach.
Student
articulates a
sound and even
innovative
methodological
approach,
according to
which he or she
supports an
argument and
questions
sources.
No clear thesis.
Thesis statement
reasonably clear
although obvious;
argument not well
supported by body
of paper (e.g.,
argument
meanders);
conclusions
unconvincing or
superficial.
Thesis is lucid
and meaningful;
argument is
developed and
sustained
throughout;
conclusions are
logical.
Thesis is
insightful and
original;
argument is
well-developed
and supported
by visual
evidence,
primary and
secondary
sources;
conclusions are
valid and
compelling.
None included
Illustrations
appended to paper,
not referenced
properly within
text, and do not
necessarily support
the thesis.
Illustrations
referenced in text
and appended
thereto with
proper captions.
Illustrations
integrated into
the written
argument in a
compelling
way; images are
selected and
sequenced in
such a way that
they support an
argument that is,
in part, visual.
Student partly
comprehends draft
corrections and
attempts to
incorporate
suggestions/advice.
Student
comprehends
corrective
criticism and
improves writing
and research
directions as a
result.
Weight
9. Thesis/
conclusion
Weight
10.
Integration of
Visual
Material
Images selected
support thesis.
Weight
11. Evidence
of
Improvement/
Drafts
(If applicable)
Weight
Student ignores
all advice.
Student
comprehends
and acts upon
corrective
criticism by
assessing and
editing own
work.
ARH Research Paper Rubric p. 4
12. Academic
Integrity
Student has not
acknowledged
sources properly.
Student has
attempted to adhere
to the standards of
academic integrity, ,
as detailed in the
Manhattanville
College Code of
Conduct by
documenting direct
quotations but has
not sufficiently
differentiated
summarized ideas
of others from
student's own
observations.
Student generally
adheres to the
standards of
academic
integrity,
particularly
regarding the
differentiation of
one’s own ideas
and those of
others by
properly
acknowledging
sources, as
detailed in the
Manhattanville
College Code of
Conduct.
Student adheres
fully to the
standards of
academic
integrity,
particularly
regarding the
differentiation
of one’s own
ideas and those
of others by
properly
acknowledging
sources, as
detailed in the
Manhattanville
College Code
Of Conduct.
Important
deadlines missed
without excuse
or notification.
Topics, outlines,
paper drafts
submitted by stated
deadlines, although
some minor
elements missing.
All requirements
for submissions
met; submissions
timely.
Preliminary
submissions
demonstrate a
thoughtful,
insightful
approach to
topic and/or
preliminary
research.
Weight
13. Deadlines
and meetings
Weight
Overall Grade:
Comments: