Rubric for Evaluating Research Papers last updated: August 12, 2008

Criterion / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Purpose / The paper meets a clearly defined purpose that is compelling for the readers because it goes beyond simply completing the assignment. / The paper meets a clearly defined purpose but is less compelling because it seems geared primarily toward completing the assignment. / The paper has a vaguely defined and uncompelling purpose, or it may switch purposes unexpectedly at one point. / The paper has no clearly defined purpose, or it may switch purposes unexpectedly at several points.
Readers / The paper clearly and consistently invokes an appropriate kind of reader, and maintains a consistent relationship to that reader. / The paper invokes a clearly defined and appropriate kind of reader and relationship. In one or two places, the paper seems to invoke a different kind of reader or relationship. / Mostly, the paper invokes a clearly defined reader and relationship. In three or four places, the paper seems to invoke a different kind of reader or relationship. / The paper does not invoke a reader or relationship consistently. Multiple shifts in kind of reader or relationship are evident.
Development / The paper is strengthened by a judicious selection of details appropriate to purpose and readers. / For the most part, the paper is strengthened by appropriate details. But an important detail is missing, or an inappropriate detail is included. / Although the paper includes many appropriate details, it also lacks a few important details or includes a few inappropriate ones. / The paper generally lacks details appropriate to purpose and readers. Or the paper contains too many inappropriate details.
Research / The writer seamlessly integrates outside sources to support the stated purpose. Appropriate sources are documented correctly. / The writer uses sources, but their integration is sometimes problematic. A couple citation errors are apparent. / The paper is sometimes not supported by appropriate sources. More than a couple citation errors are apparent. / The paper is not supported by appropriate sources, or it is comprised only of cut-and-pasted material. The paper is not documented at all.
Organization / The paper is organized in a manner appropriate to purpose, readers & content. The prose effectively raises and fulfills a reader’s expectations. / The paper is organized appropriately, but one or two things seem out of place. The prose usually raises and fulfills a reader’s expectations. / Although the paper is usually organized appropriately, three or four things seem out of place. The prose raises, but doesn’t always fulfill, a reader’s expectations. / The paper is organized in a manner generally inappropriate to purpose, readers & content. The prose fails to raise initial expectations, and/or it fails to fulfill them.
Style / The prose is engaging and clear. Paragraphs are cohesive. Sentences generally flow from one to another, and word choice is felicitous. / The prose is clear and cohesive but not as engaging as a 4 paper. Word choice is generally felicitous, but a couple problems (poor word choice, choppy sentences, lack of sentence variety) weaken the prose. / The prose is generally clear and usually cohesive. Several significant problems weaken the prose. / The prose is unclear in more than a few places. Problems with word choice, choppy sentences, and lack of sentence variety occur often.
Correctness / The prose is free of major, distracting errors in grammar, mechanics, and spelling. / Although the prose is free of major (sentence-level) errors, it may contain a couple obvious mechanical or spelling errors. / The prose contains a couple major, sentence-level errors and more than a couple obvious mechanical or spelling errors. / The prose contains more than a couple major grammar errors. It may also contain more than several obvious mechanical or spelling errors.