English | Write Now Rubric | Research Report

Write Now Rubric

Research Report
Review the rubric. Use the rubric to evaluate students' writing.

Category

Level 3 : Exceeds Objectives

Level 2 : Meets Objectives

Level 1 : Doesnt Meet Objectives

Purpose and
Content

The research report is more than five pages

long. The report is on a topic that is neither
too broad nor too narrow. The report delivers
information that is not commonly known
about the topic. The writer has considered
the audience and explains terms and ideas
appropriately. The writer includes citations
for direct quotations, little-known facts, and
the original ideas of others. All the writing,
other than the citations, is original work. All
the content of the report is true and accurate.

The research report is between three and

four pages long. The report is on a topic that
may be a bit too broad for the writer to
handle effectively, but it is not too narrow.
The report delivers some information that is
not commonly known about the topic, but
there are some well-known facts, too (for
example, that George Washington was the
first president of the United States is a
commonly known fact). The writer has tried
to consider the audience and explains new
terms. The writer mostly includes citations for
direct quotations, little-known facts, and the
original ideas of others. The content of the
report seems to be true and accurate.

The research report may be fewer than

three pages long. The report may be on a
topic that is too broad or too narrow. The
report may deliver information, but most of it
is commonly known (for example, that
George Washington was the first president
of the United States is a commonly known
fact). The writer may not have considered
the audience or explained new terms. The
writer may not include citations for direct
quotations, little-known facts, and the
original ideas of others. The content of the
report may not be true and accurate.

Structure and
Organization

The writer took notes and created a formal

outline. The structure of the report follows the
organization of that outline. The report starts
with an attention-getting hook. There is a
thesis statement in the introduction. All the
topics are related to the thesis, and each is
introduced in a logical order. Each paragraph
has a topic sentence, and all the sentences
in the paragraph are related to that topic
sentence. There are clear and effective
transitions between paragraphs and ideas.
There is a strong conclusion that restates the
thesis in a new way or leaves the reader with
an interesting idea to consider.

The writer took notes and created a formal

outline. The structure of the paper mostly
follows the outline. The report starts with a
hook and presents a thesis statement in the
introduction. Most of the topics are related to
the thesis, and the topics are introduced in a
mostly logical order, though there may be
one or two that seem amiss. Each paragraph
has a topic sentence, and most of the
sentences in the paragraph are related to
that sentence. There are transitions between
most paragraphs and ideas. There is a
conclusion that restates the thesis.

The writer may not have taken notes or

created a formal outline. The report may or
may not follow the outline. The report may
or may not start with a hook, it may not
present a thesis statement, or topics in the
report may not be related to the thesis
statement. Topics and ideas may not be
presented in a logical order. Paragraphs
may lack topic sentences, or many
sentences in the paragraphs may not be
focused on the same topic. There may be
few or no transitions between paragraphs
and ideas. There may be no conclusion, or
the conclusion may not be an effective
summation.

2013 K12 Inc. All rights reserved.

Copying or distributing without K12s written consent is prohibited.

Page 1 of 3

English | Write Now Rubric | Research Report

Category

Level 3 : Exceeds Objectives

Level 2 : Meets Objectives

Level 1 : Doesnt Meet Objectives

Language and
Word Choice

The essay has a consistent, objective tone.

The writer uses formal language and writes
in the third-person point of view. The ideas
are expressed in clear and direct language.
Words are vivid, precise, and accurate.

The essay has a mostly consistent, objective

tone. The writer used mostly formal language
and writes mostly in the third-person point of
view. Most ideas are expressed in clear and
direct language. Most words are precise and
accurate.

The essay may not have a consistent tone

or the tone may not be objective. The writer
may not use formal language, or the writer
may not have written in the third-person
point of view. Many ideas may not be
expressed in clear and direct language. The
writing may contain many imprecise or
inaccurate words.

Grammar and
Mechanics

The writer starts a new paragraph, correctly

indented, for each new topic. Every sentence
is complete and punctuated correctly. There
are no errors in spelling, capitalization, or
grammar. All quotations are punctuated
correctly and include the exact words of the
speaker or source. All citations within the text
are in the proper format, as are all citations in
the Works Cited page. The pages of the
report are numbered. The report has a title
that is properly capitalized.

The writer starts a new paragraph, correctly

indented, for each new topic. Most sentences
are complete and punctuated correctly. Most
quotations are punctuated correctly and
include the exact words of the speaker or
source. Most citations within the text are in
the proper format, as are most citations in
the Works Cited page. The pages of the
report are numbered. The report has a title
that is properly capitalized. There are few
errors in spelling, capitalization, or grammar.
Small errors do not interfere with a readers
understanding.

Paragraphs may not be correctly indented,

or there may be no evidence of paragraphs.
Most quotations are not punctuated
correctly, or there may be no evidence of
quotations. Most citations within the text are
not in the proper format, nor are most
citations in the Works Cited page. Or, there
may be no citations. The pages of the report
may not be numbered. The report may lack
a title, or the title may not be capitalized
correctly. Many sentences may be
incomplete or punctuated incorrectly. There
may be many errors in spelling,
capitalization, or grammar. Errors may
interfere with a readers understanding.

2013 K12 Inc. All rights reserved.

Copying or distributing without K12s written consent is prohibited.

Page 2 of 3

English | Write Now Rubric | Research Report

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Use the rubric to evaluate the students writing.

Indicate Level 1, 2, or 3 for each category.
Add notes and feedback about the students writing in each category.
Share your feedback with student.
Staple this rubric and feedback page to students writing and keep it in his or her writing portfolio.

Category

Level

Notes

Purpose and
Content

Structure and
Organization

Language and Word

Choice

Grammar and
Mechanics

2013 K12 Inc. All rights reserved.

Copying or distributing without K12s written consent is prohibited.

Page 3 of 3