Grading Rubric: Paper

• Introduction/Title
  • 4. Introduction and title grabs our attention. The title gives an insight as to the author's viewpoint, just as the intro prepares the audience for the organization of the paper. Thesis is clearly stated
  •  3. Introduction and title meet the purpose but not in as interesting a manner. Thesis may be implied or blurred
  •  2. Title may be too broad, like "Capital Punishment" and introduction may not reveal the purpose or organization of the paper. Thesis unclear
  • 1.  Title is too broad and introduction does not state the purpose and path of the paper. Thesis missing
• Background Information on Ethical Issue
  • 4. Provides clear documented specific evidence as to the background of the ethical issue to be discussed. Relates issue to the present while showing ties to the past
  • 3 Provides some documented & some general background information on the ethical topic &  traces its development to the present
  • 2 Background and current information are general. Few specifics
  • 1 Overly general background information, lacking in specific details.
     
• Support/Development/Argument
  • 4. Clear, convincing evidence specific, concrete support
  • 3. Sometimes general or repetitive support, some paragraphs more convincing than  others
  • 2. Scarce details, many generalities
  • 1. Very little valid, specific evidence
• Conclusion
  • 4. Is a reflection on the entire paper. Your views are clearly explained and supported. memorable
  • 3 Presents the writer's closing argument and viewpoint, but not as polished or memorable as above
  • 2 Refers to a small segment of the paper. Your views are not adequately   explained or supported
  • 1. Lacking in development, conviction and support
• Unity/Organization
  • 4. Content follows a natural, logical order reinforced by transitions, bridges, and repetition. Each paragraph contains a topic sentence & sticks to the topic
  • 3. easy-to-follow but transitions are occasionally incorrect or missing. Some topic sentences are missing and some paragraphs may digress from the topic sentence
  • 2. Some paragraphs are not easy to follow due to illogical order or missing transitions
  • 1. Ideas inaccessible due to illogical order and missing transitions
• Style/Expression/diction
  • 4. Vivid language, varied sentence structure, graceful sentences, no clutter
  • 3. Clear, appropriate language that may occasionally be vague or general; some sentences may be repetitive or awkward; little clutter
  • 2. Many value and general words, many repetitive or awkward sentences, some clutter
  • 1. So many vague, general words, repetitive or awkward sentences and clutter that the ideas are inaccessible
• Sentence Skills/Mechanics (grammar, spelling, punctuation, typos)
  • 4. very few, if any errors; if any, they do not distract the reader
  • 3. Minor errors that do not cause a misreading or undermine the credibility of the writer
  • 2. Minor and major errors with sufficient frequency to distract the reader and interfere with meaning. Some run-on sentences and fragments
  • 1. Frequent major and minor errors that make reading difficult or impossible.
• MLA or APA Format in the body of the paper
  • 4 The outside research is integrated well. Quotes flow in very smoothly. Pages formatted correctly, parenthetical documentation formatted correctly in the appropriate places, effectively quotes/effectively paraphrases, no plagiarism.
  • 3. Pages formatted correctly, minor errors in parenthetical documentation, may occasionally ineffectively quote instead of paraphrase, no plagiarism
  • 2. Pages formatted nearly correctly; many errors in parenthetical documenting; uses quotes too often; drops quotes; paraphrases , at times, ineffectively; no plagiarism
  • 1 Pages not formatted correctly, many errors in documenting, quoting, paraphrasing; little to no attempt to properly document, plagiarism may be found
• Works Cited/Reference Page
  • 4. All sources formatted correctly
  • 3. Sources formatted correctly,  with only minor errors
  • 2. Many sources incorrectly referenced; problems with spacing, indenting
  • 1 Missing sources and those which are there are virtually all incorrect.

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DATABASE Citations

Online Database Article

Elements of an online database article:

MLA

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Title of the Periodical volume number.issue number (Date of publication): starting page number- . Name of Database. Name of Service. Name, City, and State Abbreviation of Library Accessed. Date.

Expanded Academic ASAP

Austin, Linda M. “Children of Childhood: Nostalgia and the Romantic Legacy.” Studies in Romanticism

42.1 (2003): 75- . Expanded Academic ASAP. InfoTrac. Three Rivers Community College Learning

Resource Center, Norwich, CT. 8 Jan. 2004.

A  PA

As articles from the Annual Editions series are reprints of articles published in journals, magazines, or newspapers, when citing them you need to indicate the Annual Editions issue and the original publication source. (Please note that the editor’s name appears on the title page of the Annual Editions volume and the reprint information is listed at the bottom of the first page of the article.)

Larking, M. (2001). Methamphetamine use could lead to long-term brain damage. In H. T. Wilson

(Ed.), Annual Editions: Drugs, Society, and Behavior (p. 59). Guilford, CT: McGraw-

Hill/Dushkin. (Reprinted from The Lancet, p. 1162, 2000, April 1)

Online Database Article

Pace, B. (2000, June). Generalized anxiety disorder. JAMA, 283(23), 3156. Retrieved

             February 19, 2003, from Expanded Academic ASAP database.