RUBRICS IN WRITING A RESEARCH

Criteria Unacceptable Marginal Good Exemplary Score Weight

0 1 2 3
The purpose or The central The writing has a The writer's central 10%
Purpose & argument is purpose or clear purpose or purpose or
Objective generally unclear. argument is not argument, but may argument is readily
consistently clear sometimes digress apparent to the
throughout the from it. reader.
paper.
Central purpose or Information Information Balanced 20%
argument is not supports a central provides presentation of
clearly identified. purpose or reasonable support relevant and
Analysis is vague argument at times. for a central legitimate
or not evident. Analysis is basic or purpose or information that
Content Reader is confused general. Reader argument and clearly supports a
or may be gains few insights. displays evidence central purpose or
misinformed. of a basic analysis argument and
of a significant shows a
topic. Reader gains thoughtful, in-
some insights. depth analysis of a
significant topic.
Reader gains
important insights.
 The writing is not In general, the The ideas are The ideas are 20%
logically organized. writing is arranged arranged logically arranged logically
Frequently, ideas logically, although to support the to support the
fail to make sense occasionally ideas central purpose or purpose or
together. The fail to make sense argument. They argument. They
Organization reader cannot together. The are usually clearly flow smoothly
identify a line of reader is fairly linked to each from one to
reasoning. clear about what other. For the most another and are
writer intends. part, the reader clearly linked to
can follow the line each other. The
of reasoning. reader can follow
the line of
reasoning
The writing has The writing is dull The writing is The writing is 10%
little personality. and unengaging. generally compelling. It
The reader quickly Though the paper engaging, but has hooks the reader
Feel
loses interest. has some some dry spots. In and sustains
interesting parts, general, it is interest
the reader finds it focused and keeps throughout.
difficult to the reader's
maintain interest. attention.
The writing is The writing The writing mostly The writing clearly 10%
inappropriate for partially demonstrates an demonstrates an
Target
the target demonstrates an awareness of the awareness of the
Audience
audience (general awareness of the target audience target audience
 public) target audience (general public) (general public)
(general public). that is maintained
throughout.

Errors in sentence Some sentences Sentences are well- Sentences are well- 5%
structure are are awkwardly phrased and there phrased and varied
frequent enough constructed so is some variety in in length and
Sentence
to be a major that the reader is length and structure. They
Structure distraction to the occasionally structure. The flow flow smoothly
reader. distracted. from sentence to from one to
sentence is another.
generally smooth.
Many words are Word choice is Word choice is Word choice is 5%
used merely adequate, generally good. consistently precise
inappropriately, and the range of The writer often and accurate. No
confusing the words is limited. goes beyond the jargon used.
Word Choice reader. Jargon is Some words are generic word to
common. used find one more
inappropriately. precise and
Some jargon used. effective. No
jargon used.

Grammar, There are so many The writing has There are The writing is free 20%
errors that many errors, and occasional errors, or almost free of
Spelling,
meaning is the reader is but they don't errors.
Writing
obscured. The distracted by them. represent a major
Mechanic reader is confused. distraction.