Learning Goal… students will understand how the final product, the research essay will be evaluated, specifically in
the four different streams, knowledge and understanding, thinking and inquiry, application and communication.
Senior Social Science Research Essay Rubric
/80
Category
2
knowledge &
understanding
/20
Below 1
3
4
The writer does
not show an
understanding of
the topic or
material
content
thinking &
inquiry
/20
Student has not
successfully
researched the
essay
Sources not used
Analysis lacking
/10
Writer shows limited
understanding of the
subject, concepts, theories
and issues related to the
topic
Writer shows some
understanding of subject,
concepts, theories and
issues related to the topic
The essay is lacking in
information and detail
Student used a limited
range of sources which lack
relevance
quality
balance
Different sources not used
throughout the paper
Essay construction
is not correct
The paper does
not include an
introduction, body
paragraphs and a
conclusion
The spacing is
incorrect
Pagination is
missing
Missing title page
Missing reference
page
Level 3
7.2 7.5 7.8
but lacks depth needed
Writer shows an excellent
understanding of the
subject, concepts, theories
and issues related to the
topic
Quantity of information
included could be better
Good breadth of
information used
Excellent breadth of
information included
Student gathered
information from a limited
range of sources and the
effort to select quality
sources could be improved
Student has gathered
information for a variety
of relevant electronic
and print sources
Student has gathered
information from a variety
of quality electronic and
print sources which are
clearly relevant, balanced
and include critical
readings relating to the
thesis
The sources are not really
integrated throughout the
paper
The student shows some
ability to analyze the
information but only on the
surface
These sources were
integrated somewhat
throughout
Good effort to analyze
the information in depth
and draw appropriate
conclusions
Essay construction needs
some work
Body paragraphs too short
and are too few
Body paragraphs need
work
Conclusion is either missing
or fails to restate the info
covered in the paper and
the thesis
Conclusion somewhat
restates the info covered in
the paper and the thesis
Conclusion which restates
the info covered in the
paper and the thesis
Spacing needs work (extra
space incorrectly included
between paragraphs)
Double spaced mostly
(extra space incorrectly
included between
paragraphs) some
pagination used correct
margins or font used
Pagination incorrect or
missing
Title page is not in the APA
format
Reference page is not in
the APA format
Introduction includes some
of but not all; definitions,
an intro of the content to
be covered and a thesis
Pagination incorrect
Title page has some APA
components
Reference page has some
APA components
Primary sources are
included if relevant
These sources were
integrated in a
comprehensive manner
throughout
Student carefully analyzed
the information and drew
in depth, appropriate and
highly evolved conclusions
Some conclusions drawn
from the material
Essay construction needs a
lot of work Introduction is
missing; definitions, an
intro of some of the
content to be covered and
a thesis
Spacing is incorrect + extra
space incorrectly included
between paragraphs
Level 4
8.5 9 9.5
Writer shows a good
understanding of the
subject, concepts,
theories and issues
related to the topic
depth
Limited or no conclusions
drawn from the material
organization
& essay
construction
/10
Level 2
6.2 6.5 6.8
The student shows a limited
ability to analyze the
information from the
source(s)
research &
analysis
application
Level 1
5.2 5.5 5.8
Correct essay
construction Well
written introduction;
including some
definitions, an intro of
some of the content to
be covered and a thesis
Excellent essay
construction Very well
written introduction;
including definitions, a
clear intro of content to be
covered and a clear thesis
Body paragraphs
Conclusion which
eloquently restates the info
covered in the paper and
reinforces the thesis
Mostly correct APA title
page
Mostly correct APA
reference page
Obvious body paragraphs
Double spaced properly
paginated essay with
correct margins and font
Correct APA title page
Correct APA reference
page
Correct use of in-text
citations throughout
application of
APA style
Missing in-text
citations
communication
Paper is unclear
and difficult to
follow
Paper has problems with
clarity, is confusing and
hard to follow
Paper has some clarity but
is a little hard to follow
Paper is written clearly
Mostly proper spelling
Paper is written clearly and
concisely
Some spelling errors
A lot of spelling errors
Mostly proper grammar
Proper spelling
Writing is not
appropriate for
grade level
Some grammar difficulties
There are an
unacceptable
number of spelling
and grammar
errors
Some problems with
paragraph structure
Successful paragraph
structure
Proper grammar
A lot of grammar
difficulties
Serious problems with
paragraph structure
Some transitions used
Transitional sentences
Transitions are not evident
Sentence variety evident
Nice flow
Sentences can be wordy or
awkward at times
Correct tense and person
are mostly maintained
Excellent sentence variety
evident
Paragraphs are not
used
Incorrect tense used
Correct tense and person
are sometimes used
Student uses I, we, our, you
throughout the paper
Correct tense and person
are used throughout
Vocabulary is acceptable
but slang is used
Vocabulary is suitable
and diction is
appropriate
Vocabulary is very basic
and excessive slang is used
Language is somewhat
informal
/20
writing
In-text citations incorrect
Sentences are wordy or
awkward
Use of in-text citations with
errors
language is too informal
throughout
D:\106730720.doc
Use of in-text citations
with minor errors
(punctuation)
Strong paragraph structure
Excellent vocabulary and
advance diction
Learning Goal… students will understand how the final product, the research essay will be evaluated, specifically in
the four different streams, knowledge and understanding, thinking and inquiry, application and communication.
APA & ESSAY CHECKLIST (if you have items checked off that means there were problems)

Your title page APA format needs tweaking check the template and samples and addresses the following…
 2.5 cm or 1 inch margins on all four sides
 You need a page # 1 on the right side of the header
 Check the running head it should look like this…
Running head: TITLE IN CAPS 1
 Use Times New Roman or Courier 12 point regular font
 Essay Title 2/3rds down & centred is capitalized… Cap Letters at the Start of Most Words
 Double spaced and centred…. Student Name comes next followed by your school name…Fenelon Falls Secondary
School
 Do not include pictures
 Do not add a border
 Do not include the course code
 Do not include the teacher name

Page 2 of your essay
 The header is different on this and all the rest of the pages (click on Different First Page in Header
Tools) … TITLE IN CAPS
 The title of the essay in regular Cap Letters at the Start of Most Words needs to be centred at the top
of the page
 Any references using your own words need to be cited using in text citations (Author, Year).
 Any direct quotes need to be cited using in text citations that include a page or paragraph # (Author,
Year, p#).

Reference page APA format needs tweaking check the hand-out samples and address the following…
 The title is References not Works Cited or Bibliography
 All authors on this page are cited in text in the essay
 Authors are listed in alphabetical order by Last name
 Include all authors
 If there is no author use the name of the hosting organization
 Double space the entries and don’t include any extra spaces between entries
 Use a hanging indent… 2nd 3rd and 4th lines for any single source are each indented
 Title of the article or book only has the first word capitalized. Ex… I am the greatest
 Include the URL if using a website and DOI if available
 Include the publisher name and city if using a book
 Don’t just use the URL

In text citations…
 You did not use in text citations, shown in the samples and lessons. THIS RESULTS IN A ZERO… IT IS
PLAGIARISM. YOU NEED TO RESUBMIT your essay with some in text citations.
 You used too few, and need to acknowledge more use of sources for information
 Your in text citations were incorrect – do not include the author’s first name
 Your in text citations were incorrect – do not include the URL

No reference page. THIS RESULTS IN A ZERO… IT IS CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM. YOU NEED TO RESUBMIT
your essay with an accurate reference page.

Writing style and communication
 Use spell check grammar check and thesaurus more often – see corrections directly on paper.
 The writing was too informal, needs to sound more academic – see if you can find examples of this in
your paper.
Strengths…
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Weaknesses and Suggestions for Improvement….
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
D:\106730720.doc