ECO 401 History of Economic Thought
Term Paper Grading Rubric
Critical Reading
1.
2.
The writer fails to address the text(s) under discussion
The writer represents the text(s) under discussion poorly
3.
4.
5.
The writer demonstrates an understanding of the text(s) under discussion
The writer demonstrates original insight about the text(s) under discussion
The writer demonstrates superior, original insight about the text(s) under discussion
Argument
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The paper has no thesis
The paper's thesis is unclear
The paper has a thesis
The paper's thesis asserts an original argument
The paper's thesis is original, well established, and intelligently presented
Logic and Coherence
1. The paper demonstrates no sense of organization; inferences are drawn illogically three or more times; or three or more parts of the paper are extraneous
2. The paper's organization (ordering of assertions) is faulty; inferences are drawn illogically once or twice; or one or two parts of the paper are extraneous
3. The paper's organization (ordering of assertions) is clear; inferences are drawn logically; and no part of the paper is extraneous
4. The paper's organization (ordering of assertions) is thoughtfully composed; inferences are drawn logically and interestingly; and no part of the paper is extraneous
5. The paper's organization (ordering of assertions) is outstandingly composed; inferences are drawn logically with superior insight; and no part of the paper is extraneous
Evidence
1. The writer fails to support assertions with evidence three or more times
2.
3.
4.
The writer fails to support assertions with evidence once or twice
The writer supports assertions with evidence
The writer supports assertions with carefully selected evidence
5. The writer demonstrates a breadth of understanding of the topic through careful selection and presentation of evidence to support assertions

Directness and Succinctness
1. Seven or more sentences in paper are wordy, pretentious, or overwritten, obscuring the paper's argument
2. Five or six sentences in the paper are wordy, pretentious, or overwritten, detracting from the paper's argument
3. The writer includes three or four wordy sentences, but the overall direction of the paper is clear and direct
4. The writer includes a wordy construction no more than two times throughout the paper. Most of the paper is clear and direct
5. The writer chooses words and constructions with care, making statements directly and clearly
Grammatical, Mechanical Clarity
1. The paper contains seven or more errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation
2. The paper contains five or six errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation
3. The paper contains three or four errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation
4. The paper contains no more than two errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation; and the composition is sophisticated
5. The paper contains no errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation; the composition is elegant and complex while remaining clear
Two Additional Questions for Each Paper
The Topic is:
1.
3.
5.
Unsatisfactory for this course _____
Adequate for this course _____
Good for this course _____
The sources are:
1. Low quality _____
3.
5.
Medium quality _____
High quality _____
Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the course, possibly more.

Grading
8-10 points = F
11-15 points = D
16-17 points = C-
18-20 points = C
21-22 points = C+
23-24 points = B-
25-28 points = B
29-30 points = B+
31-32 points = A-
33+ points = A
This grading rubric is taken from the online essay grading rubric of:
James Bearden
Sociology Department
102 Sturges
1 College Circle
SUNY Geneseo
Geneseo, NY 14454-1401
585-245-5338