Student Name_________________________
Rubric for Writing A Research Paper
Content/Ideas
Organization
Vocabulary
Sentence
Mechanics
4
Student’s writing
is clearly focused.
It holds the
reader’s attention.
Relevant details
enrich writing.
Student’s writing
includes a strong,
beginning,
middle, and end
with clear
transitions and a
strong closure.
Student uses
effective and
engaging word
choice.
Vocabulary
reflects clear
knowledge of the
discipline.
Student
employs
consistent
variety of strong
sentence
structure
throughout.
3
Student’s writing
is purposeful and
focused. Piece
contains details.
Student’s writing
includes a strong,
beginning,
middle, and end
with some
transitions and a
good closure.
Student employs
purposeful use of
word choice.
Demonstrates
understanding of
the discipline.
Student
employs
frequent and
varied sentence
structure.
2
Student’s writing
uses quality
paragraphs, but
does not clearly
communicate
knowledge, and
lacks detail.
Student uses
correct writing
format and
incorporates a
fairly
understandable
closure.
Uses a variety of
word choice to
make writing
interesting. Some
use of subject
specific
vocabulary.
Student uses
simple,
compound, and
complex
sentences,
some run-on
sentences.
1
Student’s writing
is limited.
Does not
communicate
knowledge.
Length is not
adequate for
development.
Student’s writing
is disorganized
and
underdeveloped
with very weak
transitions and
closure.
Student’s use of
language is trite,
vague or flat.
Limited use of
subject specific
vocabulary.
Student uses
little variety in
sentence
structure. Many
run-ons or
sentence
fragments.
Student shows
consistent
agreement
between parts of
speech.
Consistently
employs correct
punctuation. No
spelling errors.
Consistently
follows elements
of style.
Student shows
agreement
between parts of
speech. Few
errors in
punctuation and
spelling. Follows
elements of style.
Student shows
occasional errors
in agreement,
punctuation, and
spelling.
Inconsistent use
of elements of
style.
Student shows
lack of agreement
of parts of
speech. Very poor
spelling and
punctuation.
Frequent errors in
mechanics of
style.
_