Grading Rubric
Name:
Assignment:
Thesis and
Consistency of Focus
Argumentation
and Organization
Understanding
and Use of Sources
Grammar
and Writing Style
Overall Impression:
Creativity /
Originality
An excellent paper will
have a clear thesis
statement. A thesis will
be the answer to an
important question asked
of the text. It will make a
particular interpretive
claim on the text: "It is
significant that so and so
believes such and such
because. . . ." Remember
a thesis is more than a
simple statement of fact:
it expresses something
significant about the text.
And it is more than a
simple statement of
opinion: it expresses a
particular view that can
be supported from the
text. In other words a
thesis is a subjective, but
not arbitrary, interpretive
claim about the text.
Having stated the thesis,
an excellent paper will
use a carefully designed
organization to further
explain and defend the
thesis in the body of the
paper. Material that is not
immediately relevant to
explaining, defending, or
contextualizing the thesis
should be avoided. Thus
an excellent paper will be
more than a mere
summary of facts. It will
build a case for its thesis
by defending the thesis
with
evid e nce
and
anticipating
counterarguments.
The strongest evidence
for a thesis will come
from direct,
textual
evidence.
Illustrative
examples, quotations,
and paraphrases will help
the reader understand the
argument being made. An
excellent paper will not
just restate or summarize
the text, but will explain
the relevance of the cited
material. Note: all original
material must be properly
cited, whether presented
as a direct quotation or
an indirect paraphrase.
Great insights are lost if
t h e y
a r e
n o t
communicated clearly.
Frequent grammatical
errors
or
awkward
sentences prevent the
reader
from
clearly
understanding what the
author is trying to say. An
excellent paper will be
both concise (sentences
that do not add anything
to the paper should be
avoided or removed) and
precise (overly general or
uncle a r
verbs
a nd
adjectives should not be
used). Also, it helps to
read a paper out loud; if
you stumble over a
section, this is a good
clue that it needs to be
rewritten.
General
impressions
about how original and
insightful the paper is. An
excellent paper will go
beyond simple cliches. It
will
have
important
insights and present its
argument and conclusions
in
a
creative
and
interesting fashion.
5 (A range):
5 (A range):
5 (A range):
5 (A range):
5 (A range):
3 (C range):
3 (C range):
3 (C range):
3 (C range):
3 (C range):
1 (F range):
1 (F range):
1 (F range):
1 (F range):
1 (F range):
Points:
Points:
Points:
Points:
Points:
Additional Comments:
Additional Comments:
Additional Comments:
Additional Comments:
Additional Comments:
Has a clear and explicit
central point. Maintains
consistent focus on that
point.
Seems to have a central
point but does not focus
consistently on it. The
thesis is more implicit or
is just a simple statement
of opinion or fact. Paper
may be more of a
summary.
Lacks a clear point. Does
not
satisfy
the
assignment.
Develops the central
focus persuasively. Each
paragraph has a clear
purpose and coherent
relation to the whole.
Develops the central
focus more through
summary
and/or
assertion than through
supporting
analysis.
Some
organizational
elements are garbled.
Difficult to follow.
Consists
of
vague
g e n e r a liz a t ion s
and
assertions. Disjoined.
Lacks logical structure
and flow.
Evidence
is
used
accurately and effectively.
Every
point
and
statement of fact is
reliably attributed.
Sources are not used as
effectively as they could
be
or
completely
understood. Citations are
mostly complete, but
there is some confusion
about the source of the
ideas.
Fails to use sources or
u s e s
t h e m
inappropriately. Elements
of the paper meet the
definition of plagiarism.
Clear and correct. Few
errors in grammar or
sentence structure. Good,
precise word choice.
Reads smoothly.
Mostly correct. Occasional
minor errors may be
present, but prose is
generally at college level,
even
if
occasionally
choppy. Words choice
could be more precise.
Major patterns of errors
or many sloppy typos and
other errors. Style makes
comprehension impossible
in places.
Shows true insight and
understanding, including
multiple perspectives and
both
sides
of
an
argument.
Is appropriate to the
assignment, but ideas
and contexts are poorly
understood
and/or
described. Reads as a
"stock paper," lacking indepth
analysis
and
creative engagement.
Is
inappropriate
to
assignment and/or ideas
are simplistic, narrow,
without
context,
perspective,
or
interpretive depth.
Total Points:
GRADE: