Name________________________________________
Decade/Topic_________________________________
Class _____
Date_______/15
American Cultural History Research Paper Rubric (Doc. 3)
Research Paper
Introduction/
Thesis
Content
Understanding/
Analysis
Support/
Accuracy of
Evidence
Grammar/
Expression
Organization
Conclusion
Citations
Inadequate
20-25
Points
Needs Improvement
26-30
Acceptable
31-35
Excellent
36-40
-insufficient
background and
unclear argument
-does not define the
purpose of the
communication
-few ideas and
inferences
-limited connections
-partially developed
background and argument
-does not clearly define the
purpose of the
communication
-little or no support
-information is
historically inaccurate
-check quality of
sources
-some questions
unanswered
-some information is
historically inaccurate
-check quality of sources
developed background and
argument
-defines the purpose of the
communication
-is explorable and grounded in
inquiry
-developed ideas and
inferences
-adequate connections between
evidence and thesis
-most questions fully answered
using good detail
-good coverage of topics
-mostly historically accurate
evidence from a variety of
reliable sources
-well-developed background
and argument
-clearly defines the purpose of
the communication
-is insightful, explorable and
grounded in inquiry
-well developed ideas and
inferences beyond the concrete
-multiple sources integrated
connecting evidence to thesis
-all questions fully answered
using excellent detail
-excellent coverage of topics
-historically accurate, critical
evidence from a wide variety of
essential sources
16-17
18-20
-some ideas and inferences
-loose connections between
evidence and thesis
10-12
13-15
-inconsistent grammar
-poor proofreading
-poorly written
-grammatical errors
-better proofreading needed
-writing needs
improvement
-ideas need better
development both logically
and hierarchically
-little development
and separation of
ideas, unorganized
structure
-does not restate main
ideas nor include any
“afterthought.”
-few sources used
-mostly unreliable
sources
-partially restates main
ideas and includes minimal
“afterthought.”
-limited sources used
-many unreliable sources
-citation errors
/40
/40
/40
-few grammatical errors
-proofread
-acceptable written expression
-consistently proper grammar
-excellent proofreading
-well-written
/20
-ideas develop somewhat
logically or hierarchically
depending on their importance
to the work.
- restates main ideas and
includes some “afterthought.”
-ideas develop logically and
hierarchically depending on
their importance to the work.
/20
-required amount of sources
-mostly reliable sources
-some citation errors
-creatively restates main ideas
and includes effective
“afterthought.”
-excellent amount of sources
-accurate sources
-properly cited
Total
/20
/20
Presentation
Clarity
Creative Effort
Accuracy of
Information
Content
Knowledge
Length
Organization/
Preparation
Handout/
Outline
Inadequate
7-8
Needs Improvement
9-11
-information, audio,
video, or images are
difficult to understand
-poor communication
-poor selection and
delivery of a variety of
images/audio/visual
-lack of effort
-no creative ideas
-information was off
topic and not relevant
-most facts need to be
checked
-little understanding of
topics
-cannot answer
questions/confused
-much longer/shorter
than allotted time
-no balance between
presenters/material
-very unorganized
-little time spent on
preparation
-information, audio, video,
or images are somewhat
understandable, but not
fully clear
-limited selection and
delivery of a variety of
images/audio/visual
-minimal effort
-few creative ideas
-some information was
inaccurate and relevant
-facts need to be checked
-missing information
-minimal understanding of
topics
-answers simple questions
4
6
-missing majority of
historical content
-poor connection
Acceptable
12-13
-information, audio, video, and
images are clear and
understandable
-good communication
-adequate selection and
delivery of a variety of
images/audio/visual
-good creative effort
-some original ideas
-information was mostly
accurate and relevant
-good use of sources
-covers necessary information
-students are comfortable with
information
-understands topics
-answers most questions
-slightly longer/shorter than -stayed with in time frame
allotted time
-good balance between
-some balance between
presenters/material
presenters/material
-loosely organized
-mostly well-organized
-some time spent on
-sufficient time spent preparing
preparation
-missing good amount of
essential historical content
-somewhat relevant
8
-covers most essential
historical content
- relevant to presentation
Excellent
14-15
-information, audio, video, or
images are clear and effective
-easy to understand and follow
-excellent communication
-outstanding selection and
delivery of a variety of
images/audio/visual
-unquestionable effort
-original, creative ideas
-information was clearly
accurate and relevant
-excellent use of quality sources
-excellent reflection of topic
-students demonstrate full
knowledge of topic by
answering questions with
authority and elaboration
-effective use of full allotted
time
-excellent balance between
presenters/material
-excellent organization
-great deal of time spent
preparing
Draft I
Draft II
Draft III
60(30)
handwritten/typed
notes only
handwritten/typed
notes only
incomplete
36(72)
43(86)
typed, partially completed, typed, mostly completed,
footnoted
typed, partially completed, typed, mostly completed,
footnoted
footnoted
typed, partially complete, typed, mostly completed,
footnoted
footnoted
/15
/15
/15
/15
/15
/15
10
-covers all essential historical
content
clear connection
Final Draft Total
Paper Drafts
Points
/10
/200
50(100)
typed, completed, footnoted
typed, completed, footnoted
typed, completed, excellent
format, footnoted
/100Q
/50T
/50T