Morality / Social Justice
Reflection Papers .
Format, Requirements, and Grading Rubric
I. Paper Format
All reflection papers must follow the same format. Points will be deducted if the reflection
paper does not follow the following format:
 1 inch margins (NOT 1 ¼ inch margins, the default in Microsoft Word 2003)
 Times New Roman, 12 point font
 Single-spaced heading with 1) student name, 2) course & teacher name, 3) date, and
4) assignment description
 Body of assignment is double-spaced, with ½ inch indents for each paragraph
 Paper is neat, without stray marks, creases, folds, or wrinkles – use a folder.
The course website contains a blank template that can be used in Microsoft Word in order to
ensure that your assignment is in the proper format.
Here is an example of how your paper should look:
Page 1
II. Paper Requirements
Every reflection paper should:
 answer the question completely in at least one full page (not ⅞ of a page)
 show careful thought and insight
 be well-reasoned and logical
 back up opinions with support/examples
 when relevant and appropriate, make use of material/information from class and/or the
textbook/handouts
!
Any words not your own should be quoted, including direct quotations from the textbook or notes.
Give the source in parentheses after any quotation. Any ideas not your own must also be cited—give
the source in parentheses after any paraphrase or summary. It is plagiarism to copy directly (words) or
indirectly (ideas) from any source without citing the source clearly. Please refer to the Honor Code in
the Student Handbook for more information, and ask questions if you are unsure.
 follow the format outlined above
 use proper spelling, usage, grammar, and mechanics
Points will be deducted from reflection papers if they are missing these requirements. Three
points out of ten (that is, 30%) will also be deducted from late homework and one and a half
points (15%) will be deducted from assignments not submitted to Turnitin.com when the
assignment is turned in. See the syllabus for more information on late homework and
Turnitin.com.
SPELLING, USAGE, GRAMMAR, AND MECHANICS
The following common words are often confused with one another. These errors in usage will
result in points being deducted from your paper:
 it’s / its
 affect / effect
 accept / except
 their / there / they’re
 than / then  ASK ABOUT THIS ONE
 a part / apart 
LOTS OF STUDENTS
MAKE THIS MISTAKE
 good / well
 who’s / whose
 your / you’re
 for granite / for granted
 different than / different from
 alot / a lot
 could/should/would of /
could/should/would have
IF YOU DON’T KNOW
THE DIFFERENCE
 weather / whether
 loose / lose
 allowed / aloud
This is a mere sampling of the errors that are often found in student reflection papers. Add to
your already long list of academic goals one more: to avoid such errors at all costs. The teacher
reserves the right to deduct points for other equally unforgivable errors not listed above (e.g.
week/weak, meet/meat, and so on). Visit http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html
for a brief explanation of many different common usage errors.
Certain grammar errors are also inexcusable at this level. Among them are errors in
subject/verb agreement, misuse or absence of apostrophes, verb tense shifts, misplaced or
dangling modifiers, and incomplete sentences. These, too, may result in a deduction of points if
they appear to be the result of a lack of effort on the writer’s part.
Page 2
III. Grading Rubric
Reflection papers will be graded according to the following rubric:
Possible Points
Category / Criteria
Quality of Answer (e.g. length, insight, reasoning, support/examples, and use of text)
6
2
6 Points:
A superior paper. Paper
is one full page, shows
insight and critical
thought, demonstrates
logical thinking and
clear reasoning, backs
up ideas with support or
examples, and makes
use of material from
class or text/handouts.
5 ½ / 5 Points:
Overall, a good paper
that has a few areas for
improvement. Either the
paper is not one full
page, or parts of the
paper could be
improved in regards to
insight, reasoning,
support, and use of
class material.
4 ½ / 4 Points:
A short paper, or a
paper with critical flaws
in the development of
its main idea. Perhaps
the paper does not
answer the question
fully, or answers it
without support or good
use of reasoning.
3 ½ or fewer Points:
A paper that is very
short (½ page or less) or
a paper that is clearly
lacking in critical
thought, idea
development, support,
or relation to class
material and the
question.
1 Point:
Two minor or one major
format error.
½ - 0 Points:
Multiple format errors.
Followed Reflection Paper Format
2 Points:
Follows reflection paper
format completely.
1 ½ Points:
Minor error in paper
format.
Proper Spelling, Usage, Grammar, and Mechanics
2
2 Points:
No errors whatsoever.
1 ½ Points:
One error
(or multiple instances
of the same error).
1 Point:
Two or three errors
throughout the paper.
½ - 0 Points:
Multiple errors in
spelling, usage,
grammar, or mechanics.
10 Points Total
IV. Grading Symbols
If you see an underlined phrase or sentence in your reflection, it simply means that I’m
acknowledging a point you made (without necessarily agreeing or disagreeing).
If you see a wavy underline either under or next to some text, it means that your point is probably
not very strong, or not substantiated with support, or in some other way deficient. It is the
equivalent of me saying, “Hmm…I’m not sure about this.” I most likely disagree.
If you see something completely crossed out, that normally means that it is factually wrong or some
type of error has been made. I may (or may not) write a short explanation of what is wrong. If not,
feel free to come by after school to ask about your homework.

!
If you see a check mark either above or to the side of a point you make, it means that I think you
made a good point.
If you see an exclamation point either above or to the side of a point you make, it means that I’m
surprised that you said what you did. This isn’t necessarily bad or good—I’m just surprised.
Page 3
John Smith
Morality / Social Justice – Mr. Menicucci
September 18, 2011
Church as Moral Guide
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