SYLLABUS
CALENDAR
ASSIGNMENTS
NOTES
Research Evaluation
Rubric used in evaluating research projects |
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| Category | Exceeds Standard | Meets Standard | Approaches Standard | Does not meet standard |
| Title | Descriptive title, name of author, date | Titled, author, date | missing title, author or date | |
Abstract (summary) |
Succintly describes area of interest, problematic, and methodology to be employed, any conclusions established. | Describes area of interest | Unclear statement of area of interest, approach, conclusions | |
| Thesis/Question | Clear description of research problem, alternative articulations, skillfully limited question | Clear description of research problem | Thesis too broad, unclear, unfocused | No clear question or thesis |
| Introduction | Nuanced definition of terms, background, summary of prior work on question, status at beginning of research | Definition of terms, some acquantance of others' related research, some background material | Definition of terms, | None obvious |
| Findings | Clear, well organized statements of findings, range and domain of findings, sources; statements relating findings; statements on limits of findings. | Clear, well organized statements of findings, awareness of limitations of findings. Paragraphs and subtopics provide sufficient detail, description. | Understandable statement of findings. Logical organization, ideas not fully developed | Findings indistinguishable from judgements and prejudgements of writer, shows little awareness limitations of own stance |
| Development | Ideas fully developed, supported with descriptive detail. Prior explanations of findings is presented; addressing contrary/contradictory findings and explanations. Addition of clarifying data, explanations of findings | Ideas fully developed, supported with descriptive detail. Prior explanations of findings is presented; | Ideas not fully articulated, presented or defended. Little supporting or descriptive detail | No logical development of thesis toward deeper insight |
| Organization Structure | Logical and subtle sequencing of matter of findings, transitions lead logically to next area of research findings | Paragraph and subtopics present but not fully perfected | ||
| Conclusions | Statement of results of search, research. Supported by findings. Statement of provisos, caveats, limitations of thesis | Conclusion restates thesis, summarizes results of quest | Conclusion restates thesis | conclusion not well related to findings |
| Mechanics of Report | APA standards met | APA, MLA, or formatting standards used |
Faulty formatting, presentation shows little care | No discernible format, sloppy, past due |
| Usage | Precise use of terms. No errors in sentence structure, spelling. Topics, subtopics, paragraph structures coherent. Tone maintained | Few usage errors | Usage errors, prose not easily followed or easy to understand | Incoherent confused, |
| Sources and Citations | Comprehensive use of relevant sources. All works cited both text and visuals, graphics captioned, attributed | Credibility of sources substantiated. No less than 10 to 15 sources. All works cited, | Some sources irrelevant. Credibility of sources unsubstantiated.Inconsistent citations, unclear attributions |
other's work not cited or mistakenly cited |
| References Section | Done in APA format, complete multi-source search in journals, books, electronic databases, internet, primary sources | Done in APA or MLA or other standard format | Formatting imperfections interfere with useful reading of report | No particular care evident in formatting |
Rubrics for Evaluation of ResearchResearch –
Clarity of research project, research questions and researching problematic/methodology.
Statement of area of interest
Formulation of unknown – range of present knowledge, domain of the searching, recognition of the perspective of researcher duringArticulation of methodology and problematic – advantages, disadvantages of using a particular methodology in proceeding in the search. Discussion of alternate approaches for examining the area of interest.
Search of literature, examination of prior research, completeness of review of other’s work in the area of interest.Findings – facts, contrary/contradictory data, sources, assessments of credibility of sources, explanations, counter-explanations,
Consideration of findings – insights, summary, conclusion, judgement of the results of search, evaluation of methodology used, statement regarding limit of the findings.
Report
Presentation - paper, clean, ease of access for reader, TOC, Indexing;
Organization – topics, subtopics, paragraphing, transitions – orderly, integrated discourse
Formatting
Informativeness of writing
Informativeness of graphics
Respect for sources (citations, references)
Documentation for reader (citations, references, bibliographies)