The Research Trail Rubric 2015
Block____________________
Date___________________
Name________________________
DIRECTIONS: highlight/underline KEY WORDS to direct your writing under column 4 only. Always keep rubric out and visible while working on The Research Trail!
15
13
11
8
Composing
8.7D



Full explanation
Sophisticated thesis statements
Full paragraph for each (3 in
total): 7-10 sentences



Purposeful elaboration
Good thesis statements
Paragraph for each (3 in total), but fewer
than 7-10 sentences



Little elaboration
Ok thesis statements
Incomplete paragraph for each
brief



Lacks focus on central idea
Weak thesis statements
Incomplete paragraph for each
Written
Expression
8.4

Consistent and effective use of
showing details
No weak words

Reasonable, but not consistent use of
showing details
Few/no weak words

Inconsistent use of showing
details
Some weak words


Little or no showing details
Many weak words
Usage and
Mechanics
8.8

Few or no errors in punctuation,
capitalization, spelling, usage
Any errors do not detract from
overall impression of the writing

Some errors in punctuation,
capitalizations, spelling, usage
Any errors do not detract from overall
impression of the writing, but are more
frequent than for a 4

Frequent errors in punctuation,
capitalization, spelling and usage
Mistakes detract from overall
impression


Frequent and severe errors
Density and variety of errors overwhelm
the performance


TOTAL:


___________________/45


___________________%
_____I used the Printing Rules
_____I used my Individual Editing List to edit my piece
15
Research
8.9


Properly cited/included one piece
of strong research in each brief
Listed websites used at end of
essay
13



TOTAL:
Included one piece of research in each
brief
Perhaps a flaw or perhaps not strong
research
Websites listed at end of essay
11


A few flaws or weak research
Websites listed at end of essay
8


No research cited in essay
No websites listed.
___________________/15
DUE DATE: ______ (A Day), ______ (B Day)
FINAL STAPLE ORDER: Rubric, Final (with thesis statements labeled/highlighted), Rubric for Sources sheet with teacher comments, Drafts, Planning. One staple in corner (see
bottom of this rubric for exact position).
Staple here
Plagiarism Contract
Plagiarism can be defined as submitting another person’s ideas, words, images, or data without giving that person
credit or proper acknowledgement. Plagiarism, a form of academic dishonesty, is tantamount to stealing and will
not be tolerated. In order to clarify what constitutes plagiarism, you should be aware that you have committed
plagiarism when you:
• Use phrases, quotes, or ideas not your own;
• Paraphrase the word of another even though you may have changed the wording or syntax;
• Use facts or data not considered common knowledge;
• Submit a paper written for another class (academic dishonesty);
• Submit a paper from an essay service or agency even though you may have paid for it (these papers are usually
of low quality, so you probably didn’t get your money’s worth);
• Submit a paper by another person even though he or she may have given you permission to use it.
You should also note that plagiarism not only encompasses written work, but also computer data, research,
musical scores, video programs, and visual arts.
Plagiarism is a serious issue, especially in an academic environment. Teachers must be able to rely on the integrity
of a student’s word in order to maintain a climate for successful learning. Plagiarism reflects on character;
therefore, you should diligently avoid inadvertent plagiarism. When you are unsure if acknowledgement is
needed, ask your teacher. The penalties for blatant plagiarism include loss of all credit for the assignment with no
opportunity to rewrite. This may significantly lower your final grade. Furthermore, plagiarism, a form of cheating,
can result in serious disciplinary action. We will discuss methods for avoiding plagiarism as the school year
progresses.
I, _________________________________, am aware of the serious nature of plagiarism and will not
intentionally use or submit someone else’s work without acknowledgement. Furthermore, I will not misrepresent
someone else’s work as my own.
Signature ______________________________________ Date____________________
Note: You may be required to process major papers through www.turnitin.com before earning a grade. Also, you may be required to complete a
one-on-one interview with the teacher to demonstrate your knowledge of the subject matter.