| Grade Range | Content | Organization |
Sources | Presentation | Documentation |
| Information and Comprehension | Clarity, transition, and flow | Variety / Credibility of References | Grammar, spelling, and vocabulary | Appropriate sources and formatting | |
A Range (Exceptional) 18-20 points |
Thesis statement/research
question clear & appropriate. Focussed, informative & comprehensively developed. Argument provided for thesis/ research question. Exceptional understanding of topic. |
Logical progression and
development of ideas. Ideas expressed clearly. Effective transitions between ideas. Effective introduction and conclusion |
Variety of references used. Data employed is relevant, accurate, and credible. Data employed supports the thesis/RQ investigated. |
Grammar and spelling are correct. Variety of proper sentence structures deployed. Variety of accurate and effective vocabulary used. |
Documentation is complete and correct. |
B Range (Proficient) 15-17 points |
Thesis statement/RQ present and
relevant. Paper adequately developed. Paper contains some inconsistent/unsupported arguments. Competent understanding of topic. |
Progressive organization. Appropriate introduction and conclusion. Ideas expressed adequately. Transitions between ideas not always effective |
Variety of references used. Data employed is relevant, accurate, and credible. Data employed supports the thesis/RQ investigated, but sometimes lacks accuracy or relevance. |
Grammar and spelling are correct. Presentation contains some inconsistent sentence structure. Accurate use of effective vocabulary. |
Documentation is flawed. |
C Range (Satisfactory) 12-14 points |
Thesis statement is present. Paper acceptably developed, but lacks accuracy, focus, or relevance at times. Argument often inconsistent. Understanding of topic exists. |
Progressive organization, but
sometimes incoherent. Introduction and conclusion are present. Ideas at times are unclear and/or vague. Transitions between ideas are often ineffective. |
References used, but lack
variety. Credible data, but sometimes inaccurate. Data supports thesis/RQ, but sometimes lacks accuracy and/or relevance. |
A few grammar and spelling
errors. Presentation contains some inconsistent sentence structure. Accurate use of vocabulary. |
Documentation is highly flawed. |
D Range (Limited) 0-11 points |
Thesis statement is flawed or
missing. Paper is vaguely or incompletely developed. Inadequate understanding of topic. |
Incoherent organization. Lacks introduction and/or conclusion. Ideas unclear and/or vague. |
Very few references used. Data lacks variety and/or credibility. Data does not support thesis/RQ, and lacks accuracy and/or relevance. |
Many grammatical and/or spelling
errors. Presentation contains many fragmented, incomplete, or mechanically incorrect sentences. Limited or inaccurate use of vocabulary. |
Documentation lacking. |
100 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
Written Presentation Style Sheet and Grading Rubric
Note: The relative values for each category are not absolute; they are guidelines only. That is, at the senior graduate level, it is expected that your documentation style will be both complete and correct. At the junior graduate and undergraduate levels, there is some variation in this. As one progresses in education, the relative weighting of the categories shifts to the left.