Created by Dr. Kay Lehmann 08/27/2015

Academic Research Writing and Formatting Rubric

Notice: Anything below Proficient in Section 1 will need revision. The instructor will notify you if the revisions are to be made in the next draft or need to be made immediately. The instructor will provide specific help for the revision process.
Hint: Whatever revision suggestions you receive from the instructor you are expected to make that change in ALL future works for the course!

Section 1 - Academic Research Writing and Formatting

Criteria

Exemplary

Proficient

Developing

Unacceptable

Third person point of view throughout. Hint: Refer to yourself as the researcher.

Third person point of view used throughout, no use of first or second person pronouns.

A few instances of first person point of view or first/second person pronouns. Minor revisions needed.

Many uses of first or second person pronouns. Revision is needed.

Written in first person or a mix of first/second/third person. Revision is required.

Proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Hint: Spell and grammar check your work before submission.

Excellence in grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Sentences are not too long and are complete sentences.

Few errors in grammar, spelling, or sentence structure. Minor revisions needed.

Many errors in grammar and spelling. Appears that grammar and spell check were not used. Incomplete or run-on sentences throughout the work. Revision is needed.

Work is difficult to comprehend because of grammar and spelling errors or there are many incomplete or run-on sentences. Revision is required.

Proper paragraph structure with a topic sentence and detail sentences which flow directly from the topic sentence.
Hint: One sentence is never a paragraph in academic writing.

All paragraphs have a topic sentence. Detail sentences flesh out the information from the topic sentence in the order introduced in the topic sentence. End of paragraph leads into the next topic.

Nearly all paragraphs have a topic sentence and detail sentences which flesh out the topic. Some paragraphs do not flesh out the topic in the order introduced in the topic sentence. Minor revisions needed as marked.

Many paragraphs lack a topic sentence or the detail sentences do not flow from the topic sentence. Detail sentences do not follow the order introduced in the topic sentence. Work is hard to follow because of paragraph structure. Revision is needed.

Paragraphs are hard to follow and the writing does not flow because of the lack of structure. Revision is required.

Transition statements connecting paragraph to paragraph and section to section. Hint: Headings are not transition statements.

The writing flows from section to section and from paragraph to paragraph seamlessly with transition statements creating the flow. The reader experiences no interruption to the flow and understands how each concept or topic connects to the previous one.

Most of the writing uses transition statements well so the writing flows from section to section and paragraph to paragraph. There are some places where the reader doesn't understand how the previous concept or topic connects to the current one. Minor revisions needed.

Much of the writing lacks transition statements which connect one section to another or one paragraph to the next. The writing is choppy and the reader doesn't understand how we got to the current topic or concept from the previous one. Revision is needed.

Writing is very choppy. There are few to no transition statements which connect the ideas in the work. Revision is required.

Citations to research articles throughout the work.
Hint: Citations can appear anywhere in a sentence: beginning, middle, or end; and can cite multiple works in a single set of parentheses.

Research is cited appropriately throughout the work. Citations appear wherever they are appropriate even mid-sentence.

Research is cited appropriately in the work but there should be more citation of research. Citations appear wherever they are appropriate even mid-sentence. Minor revision is needed.

Research is not cited often and citations appear only at the end of sentences or paragraphs. More citations are needed to support the writing and/or citations should be made throughout the sentence. Revision is needed.

There are few to no citations in the work or the citations are done incorrectly so that it is not clear what work is being cited. Citations are only placed at the ends of sentences or paragraphs. Revision is required.

Citations and references follow APA formatting guidelines.
Hint: If any works are cited in the body of the paper, there MUST be a References list.

Even at the Exemplary level there may be some minor (easily corrected) errors in formatting, APA can be confusing. At this level the majority of formatting is correctly done per APA 6th edition.

Some minor (easily corrected) and a few major errors in formatting of citations and references occurred. Minor revision and review of APA is needed.

Major errors in formatting of citations and references seen such as use of MLA or Chicago style instead of APA formatting or a mix of various formatting styles. Revision is needed.

Serious errors in APA formatting of citations and references present or the citations or references are missing from the work. Revision is required.

Referenced articles are research-oriented rather than mainstream media. Hint: Contact the online librarians sooner rather than later! Before frustration mounts! They are available to help, and so is the instructor!

Referenced works are peer-reviewed or authoritative research articles which have an author(s). Wikipedia, Dictionary.com, and mainstream news articles have not been used in the references and citations.

Nearly all referenced works are peer-reviewed, authoritative sources which have an author(s). Wikipedia, Dictionary.com, and mainstream news articles have not been used in the references or citations.

Some of the referenced works have no author or are from non peer-reviewed or authoritative sources. Time needs to be spent in the online library databases gathering research articles. Revision is needed.

There are few authoritative or peer-reviewed resources in the References list. Time needs to be spent in the online library databases gathering research articles. Revision is required.

Formatting of the paper follows APA guidelines including: 1 inch margins on all sides, double-spacing with no extra white space before or after headings or paragraphs, 12 point serif font (Times New Roman, for example, is serif), title page for every assignment that follows APA (no special styles) and is centered vertically and horizontally.

APA formatting guidelines followed extremely well!

A few minor changes are needed as noted by the instructor. If you need help with how to make the changes (meaning… if you need help getting Word to MIND), contact the instructor!

Lots of basic formatting needs to be corrected as noted by the instructor. If you need help with how to make the changes (meaning… if you need help getting Word to MIND), contact the instructor!

Formatting needs a lot of work, instructor has noted what needs to be fixed. If you need help with how to make the changes (meaning… if you need help getting Word to MIND), contact the instructor!

Section 2 - Specific expectations for this assignment

This section would be customized with criteria for each specific assignment. Some of the above criteria may be deleted depending on the type of assignment. For example, a problem statement written early in the course likely will not have citations and references yet. Those criteria from Section 1 can be deleted.