Rubrics for Papers, Paragraphs, and Presentations

Rubric for Papers

Critera	Excellent	Good	Barely Satisfactory	Unsatisfactory
Thesis/Introduction (10%)	(9-10): The opening paragraph presents a clear, specific main argument for the paper.	(7-8): The opening paragraph presents the main argument for the paper, although the language used may be somewhat vague or unclear.	(5-6): The opening paragraph introduces the main argument, but that argument is substantially vague and unclear. The thesis statement might simply repeat the wording of the assignment without actually making a argument.	(0-4): The opening paragraph fails to introduce the main argument(s) of the paper.
Analysis (30%)	(27-30): An accurate analysis of the assigned text, which comprehensively and thoughtfully addresses all of the questions posed by the assignment.	(23-26): An accurate and mostly comprehensive analysis of the assigned text, which generally addresses all of the questions posed by the assignment.	(16-22): An analysis which is mostly accurate but which may omit important aspects of the text and/or fail to address some of the questions posed by the assignment.	(0-15): An incomplete and/or incoherent analysis which fails to address the questions posed by the assignment.
Evidence (30%)	(27-30): Frequent use of relevant examples and quotations from throughout the text, all of which are documented using correctly formatted citations accompanied by page numbers.	(23-26): Use of relevant examples and quotations from parts of the text, all of which are documented using correctly formatted citations accompanied by page numbers.	(16-22): Infrequent use of examples or quotations from isolated parts of the text, which may not use correct citation format. Examples and quotations may not be relevant to the topic at hand, or may be used as filler to pad the paper's length.	(0-15): Little to no use of relevant examples and quotations. No citations included to support assertions made in the paper.
Grammar/Organization (20%)	(19-20): Writing is thoroughly clear, well-organized, and grammatical. The paper meets the minimum length requirements.	(16-18): Writing is mostly clear, well-organized, and grammatical. The paper meets the minimum length requirements.	(11-15): Writing is unclear, disorganized, and/or ungrammatical in places. The paper may not meet the minimum length requirements.	(0-10): Writing is unclear, disorganized, and/or ungrammatical throughout. The paper may fall well short of the minimum length requirements.
Conclusion (10%)	(9-10): The final paragraph of the paper clearly and succinctly recapitulates the main argument(s) of the paper.	(7-8): The final paragraph of the paper generally recapitulates the main argument(s) of the paper.	(5-6): The final paragraph of the paper recapitulates the main argument(s) of the paper, although the language used may be vague or unclear.	(0-4): The final paragraph of the paper fails to recapitulate the main argument(s) of the paper, and may simply end abruptly.

Rubric for Extra Credit Paragraphs

Score	Description
9-10 Points	The paragraph presents a clear main argument or thesis which addresses the question(s) posed by the assignment, supports that argument with evidence, and is written in grammatical and stylistically correct English.
7-8 Points	The paragraph presents a clear main argument which mostly addresses the question(s) posed by the assignment, but which lack supporting evidence or may contain significant grammatical and/or stylistic errors.
0-6 Points	The paragraph lacks a clear main argument or thesis which addresses the question(s) posed by the assignment or is significantly shorter than the required length.

Rubric for Discussion Board Posts

Score	Description
23-25 Points	The post presents a clear main argument or thesis which addresses the question(s) posed by the prompt, supports that argument with evidence, and is written in grammatical and stylistically correct English. The student also made at least 2 substantial responses to classmates' discussion posts.
18-22 Points	The post presents a clear main argument which mostly addresses the question(s) posed by the prompt, but which lack supporting evidence or may contain significant grammatical and/or stylistic errors. Responses to classmates' posts may not be substantial or may be missing entirely.
0-17 Points	The post lacks a clear main argument or thesis which addresses the question(s) posed by the prompt or is significantly shorter than the required length. No responses to classmates' posts.

Rubric for Group project

Critera	Excellent	Good	Barely Satisfactory	Unsatisfactory
Thesis/Introduction (10%)	(9-10): The project presents a clear, specific main argument which addresses the assigned theme and all of the included sources.	(7-8): The project presents a main argument which addresses the assigned theme and all of the included sources, although the language used may be somewhat vague or unclear.	(5-6): The project presents a main argument which partially addresses the assigned theme and the included sources,but that argument is substantially vague and unclear.	(0-4): The project does not present any main argument.
Analysis (30%)	(27-30): Each source in the project is accompanied by a comprehensive, thoughtful analysis discussing its author, context and significance, and which clearly relates the source to the assigned theme.	(23-26): Each source in the project is accompanied by an analysis discussing its author, context and significance, and which generally relates the source to the assigned theme.	(16-22): Each source in the project is accompanied by an analysis which may be incomplete and which may not relate the source to the assigned theme.	(0-15): Analysis of the sources is cursory and/or incoherent and fails to relate them to the assigned theme.
Sources (30%)	(27-30): All of the sources used are primary source documents which are relevent to the assigned theme. Full citations are included for each source.	(23-26): All of the sources used are primary source documents which generally are relevent to the assigned theme. Full citations may be missing or incomplete for some sources.	(16-22):Several of the sources used are not primary source documents, and some documents are not relevent to the assigned theme. Full citations may be missing for the sources.	(0-15): Most or none of the sources used are not actual primary sources. Full citations for the sources are missing.
Grammar/Presentation (20%)	(19-20): Writing is thoroughly clear, well-organized, and grammatical. The project is attractive and well-organized.	(16-18): Writing is mostly clear, well-organized, and grammatical. The project is mostly attractive and well-organized.	(11-15): Writing is unclear, disorganized, and/or ungrammatical in places. The project is visually bland and/or poorly organized.	(0-10): Writing is unclear, disorganized, and/or ungrammatical throughout. The project is visually bland and/or poorly organized.
Bibliography (10%)	(9-10): The project includes a bibliography listing the correctly formatted full citation for each source, and clearly identifies which student is responsible for contributing which source.	(8-9): The project includes a bibliography listing the full citation for each source, although there may be some formatting errors, and clearly identifies which student is responsible for contributing which source.	(6-7): The project includes a bibliography which is incomplete and which may contain major formatting errors. The students responsible for contributing individual sources may not be identified.	(0-5): The project does not include an adequate bibliography.