Final Project Evaluation Rubric
Honors Scholarship Project
Please use this rubric to evaluate your student’s final draft of the Honors Scholarship Project.
Student:
Faculty Mentor(s):
Project Title:
Semester Completed:
A
B
C
D
Research Question or Creative Challenge (10%)
The Student Has:
 Identified a unique research question, topic, or creative challenge.
 Clearly and concisely stated the project goals, objectives, and/or
thesis.
 Framed the research question, topic, or creative challenge with a full
appreciation for its complexity while retaining an appropriate sense of
focus.
 Articulately addressed the relevance of the topic to the Christian
vocation.
 Identified a research question, topic, or creative challenge that is
appropriate to the discipline.
 Clearly and concisely stated the project goals, objectives, and/or
thesis.
 Framed the research question, topic, or creative challenge with
attention to its complexity while retaining an appropriate sense of
focus.
 Addressed the relevance of the topic to the Christian vocation.
 Identified a research question, topic, or creative challenge that is not
entirely appropriate to the discipline.
 Stated the project goals, objectives, and or thesis in ways that are
unclear and imprecise.
 Provided a framework that is too narrowly or broadly defined to result
in a useful investigation toward understanding the research question,
topic, or creative challenge.
 Inadequately addressed the relevance of the topic to the Christian
vocation.
 Not identified a research question, topic, or creative challenge that is
appropriate to the discipline.
 Stated the project goals, objectives, and/or thesis in ways that are
HSP Final Project Rubric 1


unclear and imprecise.
Not provided a useful framework for understanding the research
question, topic, or creative challenge.
Not addressed the relevance of the topic to the Christian vocation.
Comments:
A
B
C
D
Literature Review/Bibliography Content (20%):
The Student Has:
 Presented the thesis within and supported by a thorough review of
relevant academic literature.
 Clearly summarized the major ideas of sources.
 Clearly drawn thematic connections between sources.
 Clearly demonstrated the need for further research.
 Presented the thesis within and supported by an adequate review of
relevant academic literature.
 Summarized the major ideas of sources.
 Drawn thematic connections between sources.
 Demonstrated the need for further research.
 Presented an underdeveloped review of academic literature.
 Has sometimes been unclear in summarizing ideas.
 Has sometimes been unclear in drawing thematic connections
between sources.
 Provided an inadequate grounding for further research in the literature
review.
 Presented a deficient review of academic literature.
 Presented an unclear summary of ideas.
 Presented a poor understanding of thematic connections between
sources.
 Provides an inadequate grounding for further research in the literature
review.
Comments:
HSP Final Project Rubric 2
A
B
C
D
Methodology (10%)
The Student Has:
 Carefully chosen a methodology or approach that is well-suited to the
research question, topic, or creative challenge.
 Clearly explained the methodology or approach and reasons for
selecting it.
 Fully addressed the limitations of the methodology or approach.
 Chosen a methodology or approach that is suitable to the research
question, topic, or creative challenge.
 Clearly explained the methodology or approach and reasons for
selecting it.
 Adequately addressed the limitations of the methodology or approach.
 Chosen a methodology or approach that is marginally adequate to the
research question, topic, or creative challenge.
 Not always clearly explained the methodology or approach and
reasons for selecting it.
 Not sufficiently addressed the limitations of the methodology or
approach.
 Chosen a methodology or approach that is inadequate to the research
question, topic, or creative challenge.
 Not clearly explained the methodology or approach and reasons for
selecting it.
 Not addressed the limitations of the methodology or approach.
Comments:
A
B
Content / Results (50%)
The Student Has:
 Clearly communicated research results.
 Thoroughly and convincingly interpreted results in light of proposed
research question and literature review.
 Explored possible alternate interpretations and provided a strong
defense of the chosen interpretation.
 Thoroughly considered implications of results.
 Included high quality charts, tables, graphs, images, etc. to assist in
understanding the interpretation (if applicable).
 Met or exceeded the standards of scholarship in the academic
discipline (as appropriate for someone at this stage of scholarly
development).
 Clearly communicated research results.
 Interpreted results in light of proposed research question and literature
review.
 Explored possible alternate interpretations and provided an adequate
defense of the chosen interpretation.
HSP Final Project Rubric 3



C






D






Considered implications of results.
Included quality charts, tables, graphs, images, etc. to assist in
understanding the interpretation (if applicable).
Met the standards of scholarship in academic discipline (as
appropriate for someone at this stage of scholarly development).
Lacked clarity in communicating research results.
Inadequately interpreted results in light of proposed research question
and literature review.
Incompletely explored possible alternate interpretations and provided a
weak defense of the chosen interpretation.
Incompletely considered implications of results.
Included low quality charts, tables, graphs, images, etc. to assist in
understanding the interpretation (if applicable).
Not met the standards of scholarship in the academic discipline (as
appropriate for someone at this stage of scholarly development).
Unclear communication of research results.
Inadequately interpreted results in light of proposed research question
and literature review.
Provided little or no consideration of possible alternate interpretations
and did not defend the chosen interpretation.
Not considered implications of results.
Included confusing charts, tables, graphs, images, etc. that hindered
understanding of the interpretation (if applicable).
Not met the standards of scholarship in the academic discipline (as
appropriate for someone at this stage of scholarly development).
Comments:
A
B
Writing and Organization (10%)
The Student Has:
 Clear and effective writing.
 Clear and effective organization of ideas with effortless transitions.
 Minimal errors in grammar, spelling, mechanics, and punctuation.
 Adherence to appropriate style guidelines (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
 Writing that is clear and effective for the most part.
 Organization and transitions that are clear and effective for the most
part.
 Minor errors in grammar, spelling, mechanics, and punctuation.
 Minor errors in adhering to appropriate style guidelines (APA, MLA,
Chicago, etc.).
HSP Final Project Rubric 4
C
D








Unclear and ineffective writing.
Unclear and ineffective organization and choppy transitions.
Multiple errors in grammar, spelling, mechanics, and punctuation.
Multiple errors in adhering to appropriate style guidelines (APA, MLA,
Chicago, etc.).
Unclear and ineffective writing.
Unclear and ineffective organization and choppy transitions.
Significant and repeated patterns of errors in grammar, spelling,
mechanics, and punctuation.
No attention to appropriate style guidelines (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
Comments:
Please assign a numerical grade for the Final Project, using the following scale.
This is also the grade that you should assign via DataConnect for HNR 498. A
student must receive at least a B- in order for their Honors Scholarship Project to
fulfill their honors requirements.
___ / 100
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
94-100%
90-93%
87-89%
84-86%
80-83%
77-79%
74-76%
70-73%
67-69%
64-66%
60-63%
59% and Below
Please give one copy of your completed evaluation to the student, and email a
scanned copy to sara.scheunemann@indwes.edu.
We give credit to Washington State University for providing the language of “creative challenge” as a framework for the first section of this rubric.
HSP Final Project Rubric 5