Researched essay rubric
Here is the rubric for your researched essay
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Criteria |
5 - Excellent |
4 - Above average |
3 - Average |
2 - Below average |
1 - Failing |
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Title |
5 Points Title is creative, sparks interest and is related to the topic.
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4 Points Title makes an attempt to catch the reader's interest
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3 Points Title is related to the topic but needs to be more creative
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2 Points Title is present but is either generic or confusing.
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0 Points No title is present
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Paragraphing / structure |
5 Points The essay uses paragraphs effectively.
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4 Points There may be a few problems with paragraphing but overall the writer uses them well.
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3 Points There are a few paragraphs in this essay that are a little long (or a little too short for no reason).
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2 Points Paragraphing often seems to be random. There is no apparent logic for why paragraphs are broken up the way they are.
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0 Points There are no paragraphs.
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Content of the argument |
30 -24 Points
The argument is clearly explained and backed up with well stated logical explanation and carefully chosen research. If there is a call to action included, the terms/ suggestions are clear and definite. |
23 – 18 Points The argument is well-constructed and backed by researched information but there may either be some places that are not as polished or that need more development. Also, there may be places where the writer’s logic or support needs work. |
19 – 13 Points The writer manages to make a statement about a particular issue, though parts of that statement may be a little vague or unsupported by research. The writer’s opinion shows pretty good critical thinking and logic. Either the writer’s thesis is rather vaguely stated or the examples or logic that he/she chooses do not clearly back it up. There are moments in the writer’s essay where their argument does not seem to make much sense.. |
12 – 6 Points The writer’s thesis is a little unclear, unexplained, or not really logically supported. There may be some obvious holes in the writer’s logic. The writer uses examples and research that are not clear or that seem to contradict his argument. The argument may be too informative or might not take a clear stance on the issue being considered. |
5- 0 Points It is hard to determine what the writer is wanting the reader to focus on The essay wanders. The examples or research chosen do not seem to have much at all to do with the argument of the writer. The writer might not really explain the logic behind their argument much at all. |
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Sources |
10-9 Points
Student presents relevant and fully analyzed textual evidence to support the thesis and makes an attempt to connect that information to his own argument. The sources used are completely reliable and authoritative. |
8-7 Points Student presents relevant and fully analyzed textual evidence to support the thesis and makes an attempt to connect that information to his own argument. The sources used are sound, though there may be some that are questionable. |
6 – 4 Points Student presents relevant and partially analyzed textual evidence to support the thesis. The sources used have not been carefully examined for their reliability and are rather questionable in nature. |
3 – 1 Points Student presents textual evidence that is not integrated into the argument or does not support the thesis. The sources that the essay uses are general and/or unreliable. There seems to have been little consideration of the nature of the research used. |
0 Points Student provides no textual evidence to support the thesis or student’s textual evidence is irrelevant and is not analyzed. Sources are either not used or are not smoothly integrated into the student’s argument. |
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Voice/ Presentation |
20 -17 Points In presenting his argument, the writer manages to give an impression of trustworthiness and objectivity while also demonstrating why this topic is important to him personally. |
16 – 13 Points |
12 – 9 Points There are some problems with the consistency of the essay’s voice. The writer may have either adopted a voice that seems too personal and subjective (perhaps using too much emotional appeal) or too objective and distant (seeming too impersonal) |
8 – 5 Points There are obvious problems with the consistency of the voice in this essay. The writer does not seem to have considered how his audience will perceive him (as the writer of the essay). The writer uses the first person (“I” and “you”) too much or too inappropriately. There is no objectivity in the argument. |
4 -0 Points There is absolutely no attempt to write with voice personality in this essay. |
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Organization |
20 – 17 Points The writer has found some way to really make his/her discussion gripping. It makes you want to read the argument. |
16 – 13 Points The way that the writer presents their argument makes it easy to understand what they are talking about. |
12 – 9 Points The writer presents his argument in a manner that is logical and that flows well. There may problems here or there but, overall, their essay/argument is pretty easy to follow. |
8 – 5 Points The presentation of the argument seems a little random or disorganized. The discussion does not really flow from point to point very well. |
4 – 0 Points The essay seems to be an almost random collection of statements. There is little discernible organization at all. |
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MLA formatting and documentation
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10 – 9 Points The formatting of the works cited and the in-text citations meets the criteria of MLA.
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8 – 7 Points The formatting of the works cited and the in-text citations meets the criteria of MLA but there are a few minor problems here and there.
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6 – 4 Points The formatting of the works cited and the in-text citations generally meets the criteria of MLA but there may be some recurring errors .
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3 – 1 Points The student attempts MLA format in this essay but there are noticeable and regular errors. The paper contains one or more sources in the argument that are either not documented or that are not on the works cited. |
0 Points The writer makes no attempt at MLA format. Perhaps the writer uses another formatting style (APA, for example). |
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