Dr. Bauer’s Research Term Paper Rubric

Title_______________________________ Name of Student___________________

Components	Unacceptable 1-1.5	Acceptable 2-2.5	Target 3
Theme	Paper has no or limited relevance to the topic.	Acceptable theme and somewhat relevant to topic.	Paper very relevant to current topics and trends.
Abstract	A clear picture of the study was not presented; narrative hook is non-existent	“Loosely” tied abstract contains the main thrusts of the paper. Promising, but may be slightly unclear.	Abstract ties everything about the paper together. Easily identifiable and connects well with paper
Structure	Generally unclear and wanders or jumps around. Few or weak transitions, many paragraphs without clear directionality.	Generally clear and appropriate, although my wander occasionally. May have few unclear transitions , and a few paragraphs without clear direction	Evident, understandable, appropriate, Excellent transitions from point to point.
Analysis	Very little or weak attempt to relate evidence to abstract. May be no identifiable argument, or no evidence to relate it to.	Evidence often related to abstract, though links not very clear	Clearly relates evidence to abstract. Fresh and exciting, posing new ways to think of the material. Displays Critical thinking and avoids simplistic description.
Philosophical Relationship to Topic	No or limited knowledge of the topic is presented in the paper.	Basic understanding of the topic or practice is presented.	A thorough understanding of the topic is used to form best practices.
Writing Conventions-Mechanics	Paper has many syntactical and grammatical errors and does not follow the APA guidelines. May have run on sentences and comma splices. Refer to the writing center.	Paper has limited syntactical and grammatical errors and APA style is utilized throughout.	Paper is “error” free as uses APA guidelines throughout. Paper is “publishable”. Conforms to APA style. Minimal to no errors.
Conclusion/ Future Implications	Culmination activities of the paper not addressed to the content addressed in the body of the paper. Conclusions seem unrealistic based on present data.	Some conclusions are tied to the ideas in the paper and provide authentic realistic implications.	Conclusions are strongly tied to the ideas discussed in the paper and provide realistic implications to the field.

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