Exemplary

Competent

Inadequate

Content

Identifies and develops main themes with depth and completeness, strong support, and adequate detail.  Employs themes, ideas, and principles from course readings & discussions.

Identifies and develops main themes in a vague way, or not as deeply as they might be.  Supporting evidence and analyses are lacking in detail or they are unclear. Little use of course ideas or other materials.

Identifies and develops main themes poorly or not at all.  Analysis is missing, as is supporting evidence.  No use of course ideas or other materials.

Research

Solid and imaginative exploration and use of apt primary sources, scholarly articles and monographs.  Sources build on each other, open new avenues of thought, and establish argument with originality.

Secondary sources only.  Unimaginative but adequate exploration and use of materials. 

Too little evidence of any kind to address analytical questions with originality and depth.  Heavy reliance on a single source or fragmentary use of secondary sources. Note that any evidence of plagiarism will result in a failing grade.

Analysis

Uses evidence to argue a point.  Asks interesting and novel questions of the evidence.  Considers context, contingency, actors’ roles and purposes,  and significance of findings.  Adds value to evidence.  Applies concepts from course.  Seeks explanation.

Narrative with some consideration of context and other  explanatory factors.  Crude or simple application of course ideas, methods, or materials.

Simply accumulates evidence within a  narrative that lacks contextualization and other explanatory factors.  No use of course ideas, methods, or materials

Organization

Organization is unified, apt, and  coherent. The order and structure of the paper, paragraphs, and sentences are compelling and move the reader along. Transitions are purposeful and clear.

Writing’s logical order and structure  is inappropriate and does not advance the paper’s goals.  Paragraphs, sentences, and/or transitions are sometimes effective but sometimes not.

Lacks clear structure and order.  Paragraphs and sentences may be convoluted and difficult to understand, or they may be too choppy.  Transitions are abrupt and unclear.

Conventions

Grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and vocabulary usage are correct and appropriate.  The tone is consistent and appropriate.  Citations are thorough, accurate, and in correct format.

Grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and vocabulary usage contain some flaws that do not impede readability.  The tone is inconsistent and/or inappropriate.  Citations are accurate but formats are erratic.

Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary usage contain major flaws that impede readability.  Citations are missing, and/or they appear in erratic formats.