INTERNATIONAL & AREA STUDIES BA AND MS THESIS RUBRIC
Instructor________________________
Course___________________
Excellent Mastery
(5)
Good Mastery
(4)
Semester_____________
Date_____________
Score_______
Some Mastery
(3)
Minimal Mastery
(2)
No Mastery
(1)
Generally
describes the
international
complexities of
research
questions
Generally frames
topic and
maintains some
focus
Limited
description of
international
complexities,
unclear research
questions
Research
questions not
related to
international
issues
Over-simplifies
topic and
maintains no focus
Topic is not
identifiable.
Generally uses
theoretical and/or
comparative
literature
Inconsistent use of
theoretical and/or
literature, may
over-rely on too
few sources
No use of theory
and/or literature
Limited
description of
argument
Inconsistent use of
methods related
to research
Unclear or
inappropriate
methods
Thoroughly
describes historical
and cultural
complexities related
to research
questions
Thoroughly frames
complex topic and
maintains
appropriate focus
Thoroughly situates
work within existing
theoretical and/or
comparative
literature and makes
contribution
Clearly situates
work within
existing
theoretical and/or
comparative
literature
Argument
Thoroughly develops
defensible argument
Clearly describes
argument
Approach and
Methodology
Thoroughly uses
appropriate methods
Clearly uses
methods related
to research
Generally
describes
argument
Generally uses
methods related
to research
Use of Data and
Evidence
Thoroughly uses
data and evidence
Clearly uses data
and evidence
Generally uses
data and evidence
Inconsistent use of
data and evidence
Presents no data
and evidence
Insight and
Conclusions
Thoroughly connects
ideas and develops
insightful
conclusions
Clearly connects
ideas and draws
conclusions
Generally
describes ideas
and draws some
conclusions
Limited
description of
ideas and draws
simplistic
conclusions
No description of
ideas and draws
unclear
conclusions
International
Competency
Scope and
Complexity
of Topic
Use of Literature
and Theory
Clearly describes
the international
complexities of
research
questions
Clearly frames
complex topic and
maintains focus
No argument
Grammar,
Spelling and
Usage
Virtually no errors
Some minor
errors
Frequent or
serious errors
Errors begin to
impair readability
Significantly
impairs
readability
Organization
Structure enhances
the argument; Strong
sections and
seamless flow
Structure
supports the
argument; Clearly
ordered sections
Structure has
choppy transitions
and/or
redundancies or
disconnections
Structure is of
inconsistent
quality
Needs significant
reorganization
Clarity and Style
Mastery of the genre,
including elegant
style, established
voice
Effective prose
style; Follows
relevant scholarly
conventions;
Emerging voice
Beginning to be
comfortable with
appropriate
conventions
Style is
inconsistent or
uneven
Style gets in the
way of reading for
content