4 - Excellent
Research
Research
Question/Hypothesis question is well
developed with
a scope
appropriate to
available
resources and
the terms of the
assignment.
Question is
grounded in
background
information,
but displays a
high level of
independent
thought and
inquiry.
Scholarly Concepts
and Vocabulary
Viability
3 - Good
Research
question is
fairly focused
and is a good fit
for available
resources.
Research
question shows
some
understanding
of issues and
concepts related
to the subject.
Displays some
aspects of
original though
or investigation.
2 - Fair
Research
question is
related to the
topic, but is too
broad or too
narrow. Topic
cannot be
realistically
researched with
available
resources.
Question may
be basic enough
to be easily
answered with
general
background
resources rather
than requiring
deeper
investigation.
Student’s
Student’s
Student’s
wording
wording reflects wording
demonstrates
some
implies vague
preliminary
background
or superficial
research to
information and background
build
employs some
information,
background
concepts and
but lacks
information and keywords on
sufficient
uses numerous which to build a concepts and
concepts and
research
keywords on
keywords from question.
which to build a
sources to
research
develop a
question.
research
question.
Student
Student
Students
successfully
articulates a
struggles to
articulates a
research
articulate a
research
question
research
question that
adequately. The question that
can be
question may
realistically can
addressed
possibly be
be addressed
within the time addressed
within the time
allotted,
within the time allotted,
1 - Poor
Question is
inadequate or
insufficiently
connected to the
topic. Student
chooses a report
topic rather than
a research
question, a
yes/no question
or a question
that can easily
be answered
with an internet
search.
Student’s
wording lacks
evidence of
background
information and
does not
employ
concepts or
keywords on
which to build a
research
question.
Student fails to
articulate an
acceptable
research
question that
can be
converted into
an acceptable
maximizing the
available
resources and
be converted
into a viable
preliminary
hypothesis.
Clarity
The research
question is
focused with a
clear direction
to an eventual
thesis and
audience.
allotted,
utilizing the
available
resources and
may be
converted into
an acceptable
preliminary
hypothesis.
The research
question is
present and is
stated with
adequate
demonstration
of sufficient
preliminary
knowledge,
indication of
direction to
thesis and/or
audience.
requires too
many or too
few resources
and/or does not
convert well
into an
acceptable
preliminary
hypothesis.
The research
question is
present but
does not
demonstrate
sufficient
preliminary
knowledge,
indication of
direction to
thesis and/or
audience.
preliminary
hypothesis.
The research
question is
inadequate in
demonstrating
preliminary
knowledge,
indicating
direction to
thesis and/or
audience.