Name ___________________ Course: Political Science 100 Date ____________________ GRADING RUBRIC FOR THE ESSAY ASSIGNMENT Content

and Critical Thinking: _______ (40 points) The student fully and completely answers the question. Argument is clear and plausible. The student incorporates information and/or concepts from the appropriate website, and class or lectures as necessary. All materials are presented accurately and are applied appropriately. Paper incorporates independent, analytical thought on the part of the student. Paper has an original yet relevant take on the question(s). Claims and ideas are well supported and elaborated.

Spelling, Grammar, Style _______ (30 points) Correct Spelling: Use spell check. Spell check won't catch proper use of the following words: affect/effect, except/accept, it's/its, their/there/theyre, principle/principal, loose/lose, family's/families, weather/whether, to/too/two, then/than Correct grammar: Use grammar check, but be sure to read the sentences being checked rather than blindly accepting your programs suggestion. Long, complex passive and/or run-on sentences are avoided. (For example, Sue hit the ball is usually better than The ball was hit by Sue, unless you are emphasizing the ball on purpose.) There is subject/verb agreement. (For example, He is or They are, not they is.) There is verb tense consistency. You should establish a primary tense and maintain that throughout the paper. (For more information on verb tense consistency, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/601/04/)

Structure/Organization _______ (15 points) Structure is logical. Each paragraph plays a role in the overall development of the argument. A reader may easily outline the essay. You may want to include a "roadmap" to the essay for the reader in the first paragraph. Introductory and concluding paragraphs are strong. Smooth transitions between paragraphs. Transitional sentences guide reader. Topic sentence(s) of each paragraph are clear and easily identified.

Citation (Cite Carefully. Plagiarism is totally unacceptable!) _______ (15 points) Introduce your quotations smoothly. Reference to the author or text is often best: As Leopold argues, "....." (2006, 34). As Weston says, "............" (2000, 341). Identify quotations with quotations marks unless five lines or longer. For quotes longer than five lines, start quote on new line, indent entire quotation, and single space the quotation. Properly attribute quotations or resource materials the author-date format in the Chicago Manual of Style. (For more on this, see: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html). Must have a "References page at the end of the paper. Do not simply change a few words in a sentence. If you are closely following your source, you should quote instead. Both very loose paraphrasing and use of an idea without quotation require citation. Do not make up citations. Guessing about correct source or inventing source is not acceptable. Cite ALL sources used including personal communications, internet material, other student papers, etc.

Total: _______ (100 points)

Grading Scale: A = 36 40 or B = 32 35 or C = 28 31 or D = 24 27 or F = 23 or less or

27 30 24 26 21 23 18 20 17 or less

or or or or or

14 - 15 12 13 11 9 10 8 or less