These materials are meant to be helpful in case you want to reference any materials we discussed in class, or if you’ve missed class and want to catch up. They are NOT a substitute to attending class – it doesn’t cover everything – but it gives a good sense of what happened.
Category: Uncategorized (Page 6 of 8)
| Excellent | Good | Needs improvement | Poor | F | % | |
| Introduction (1-3 paragraphs) | Clear and engaging introduction to your question. The introduction explains how and / or why you are interested in this question, as well as your initial thoughts around what you expected to find in your research and why (your hypothesis). | Research question is clearly stated. The introduction mentions how and / or why you are interested in this question, as well as your initial thoughts around what you expected to find in your research (your hypothesis). | Introduction mentions the question but does not include why you are interested in the question and / or is also missing a hypothesis about what you expected to find in your research. | Research question is unclear or missing entirely. | No introduction or plagiarism. | 7.5% |
| Source quality | A wide range of sources are used, each from a different genre. All sources are reputable, credible, current, and relevant to the paper topic. Sources are not redundant in the information they provide; each provide different context or approaches to the topic which widens or deepens the reader’s understanding. | A good range of sources are used, each from a different genre. Sources are relevant to the paper topic but may be redundant in the information they provide to the reader.
|
A limited range of sources are used, with some genres repeating. Some sources may be less credible. Together, the three sources do not provide much new information to the reader. | Sources are not credible and / or irrelevant to the topic at hand.
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Sources are not credible and / or irrelevant to the topic at hand. | 5% |
| Bibliographic entry | All sources are properly cited in MLA format. | Most sources are properly cited. No more than two errors. | Most sources have errors in the citation. | Citations follow no discernable bibliographic format or pattern; numerous errors. | No entry | 5% |
| Summary
(1 substantial paragraph) |
Comprehensive and concise summary of the most important points the author makes relating to your research question, quoting directly if possible. Includes what data, facts and evidence the author uses to support their claims, and how they use this evidence to arrive at their conclusions. Reader does not need to assume anything and can fully comprehend the source without going to it. | Mostly captures the source’s main point and arguments relating to your research question, quoting directly if possible. The importance and relevance of some information may not be totally clear. Reader may need to go to the source itself to clarify some open questions. | Summaries of the sources are present, but may be incomplete, inaccurate, or confusing. Main idea and / or key supporting details of the summary are missing. | Summaries are minimal, providing no meaningful insight into the source’s content. Disorganized and poorly written. | No summary or plagiarism. | 25% |
| Rhetorical Analysis
(2-3 paragraphs) |
Clear and engaging analysis of the source, which demonstrates a deep understanding of the source’s genre, audience, purpose, etc. Includes direct quotes from the source as evidence for opinions and reactions to the source. Includes questions about the sources which suggest further areas of research. Demonstrates the author has carefully read and understood source content, quality, and relevance. | Good understanding of the source’s genre, audience, purpose, etc. Demonstrates the author has read and understood source content, quality, and relevance. Some insightful engagement with the source is present. | Basic understanding of the source’s genre, audience, purpose, etc. The author’s understanding of source content, quality, and relevance is unclear for at least one of the sources. Analysis is present but lacks depth or thoroughness. | Analysis shows superficial or no reading, and limited understanding of the source’s genre, audience, purpose, etc. There is no explanation as to why these sources were selected and how they relate to the topic. | No analysis or plagiarism. | 25% |
| Quotables | At least one direct quote for each source that really exemplifies the document’s claims or interpretations; or, at least one sentence that you really agree with (or really DIS-agree with) that you want to refer back to later. Quotes are properly placed in quotes and include the page number. | Quotes are irrelevant to the topics and / or missing key elements (not put in quotations, missing page number). | No quotables included. | 15% | ||
| Conclusion
(at least 400 words) |
A clear and engaging summary of what you found in your research, how your understanding of the topic has changed, and why the topic is important. A thoughtful and well-reasoned argument for who you think needs to know about this topic. | A clear summary of what you found in your research, how your understanding of the topic has changed, and why the topic is important. The audience for this information is identified. | Your findings are only partially summarized. One two elements (how your understanding has changed, why the topic is important, the target audience for this information) are missing. | The summary of your findings are unclear or confusing to understand. Multiple required elements are missing. | No conclusion or plagiarism. | 7.5% |
| Word count and number of sources | At least 1900 words, with at least 400 words per source, not including quotables. Three complete sources. | At least 1500 words and at least 300 words per source, not including quotables. Two sources. | Less than 1500 words. Less than 300 words per source, not including quotables. One source. | No sources. | 5% | |
| Clarity and style
 Adapted from Professor Jay Aronson’s Essay and Research Paper Grading Rubric  |
All sentences are grammatically correct and clearly written. No words are misused or unnecessarily fancy. Technical terms, words from other languages, and discipline-specific words are always explained. All information is accurate and up-to-date. Paper has been spell-checked AND proofread (ideally by you and somebody else), and contains no errors. Paper is properly formatted in MLA style. | Most sentences are grammatically correct and clearly written. An occasional word is misused or unnecessarily fancy. Technical terms, words from other languages, and discipline-specific words are usually, but not always, explained. All information is accurate and up-to-date. Paper has been spell-checked AND proofread, and contains no more than a few minor errors, which do not adversely affect the reader’s ability to understand the paper. | Most sentences are grammatically incorrect or not clearly written. Several words are misused. Technical terms, words from other languages, and discipline-specific words are rarely explained. Paper contains several spelling and grammatical errors. Reader’s ability to understand essay may be compromised by these errors. | Paper is full of grammatical errors and unclear writing. Several words are misused. Technical terms, words from other languages, and discipline-specific words are rarely explained. Paper has not been spell-checked or proofread, and contains numerous errors. Reader has a difficult time understanding essay because of errors. | Plagiarism. | 5% |
For my research i would like to cover the topic of abortions. Abortions has been one of the biggest controversies i have ever seen and its interesting to see how ignorant people can truly be due to their personal beliefs making them overlook what is just facts. People don’t only get abortions just because they got “knocked Up” ,i wont say that that’s never the case because sometimes, it is. It isn’t the majority of the time though. So many women and even little girls face the decision of having an abortion because 9/10 its truly what is best for them Some women have been raped, are so sick that their bodies can not handle a pregnancy, can not afford to have a child,or just aren’t ready to birth another life.Pregnancy is a big thing. It isn’t just about the baby in that belly, it is about the woman who is carrying it as well. She matters too. These are all Justifications as to why A lot of people think its wrong because in their eyes you’re just killing a baby when in reality this little baby they are fighting so hard to keep alive grows into another adult just like them and what happens when they are the child of somebody who could not provide for them? Who was not ready for them ? They are prone to endure trauma and scarcity of basic necessities being raised and resented by somebody who deep down did not want to have them in the first place.Then what? Its up to them to heal a heart they did not break and heal themselves from a wound that would not have been there if they were just born when that parent was ready to have them. Abortion is a miracle for so many women and its a shame that people think they have a say in the body and right of women. If i get pregnant and willingly know that i cannot provide for this child and will most likely resent them due to my OWN personal feelings that would be totally selfish. I understand that there are women that can not have children and my heart goes out to them, but belittling and denying the right to the women who have a choice to have one or not is absurd. Adoption is a thing. Women who don’t want to abort and give up the child for adoption don’t always realize how bad the foster care system can be and its heartbreaking the circumstances a lot of society would put a human being through rather than just let the person who created them decide whether to have them or not. I want to learn why people think the way they do and i want to provide a rebuttal of why their opinions have no place here. Abortion is between a Woman and her body and her choice because at the end of the day,She is the one going through the hardships of being with child,not you.
Gabriella Leonn
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