Research QuestionPose a meaningful research question on a debatable topic. | Constructs a precise and focused research question relative to a current and debatable topic. | Constructs a focused research question relative to a debatable topic. | Constructs a research question relative to a debatable topic; however it is somewhat too broad or too narrow for the assignment. | Constructs a research question; however, the question is too broad or too narrow for the assignment and/or it is not debatable. | Does not construct a research question, or constructs a research question that does not meet any of the rubric criteria. |
Working ThesisPropose a focused working thesis. | Includes a working thesis that takes a well-articulated, clear, specific position on one side of an issue. | Includes a working thesis that takes a clear, specific position on one side of an issue. | Includes a working thesis that takes a clear position on one side of an issue; however it lacks specificity. | Includes a working thesis; however, it lacks specificity and does not take a clear position. | Does not include a working thesis, or includes a thesis that does not take a position. |
Detailed OutlinePresent a detailed outline that includes coherent headings, subheadings, and source placement notes. | Outline is thoroughly developed and clearly labeled with effective notes, such that the reader can easily see how the essay will build its argument; all necessary elements of the outline are present. | Outline is well-developed and labeled with sufficient notes, such that the reader can get a sense of how the essay will build its argument; all necessary elements of the outline are present. | Outline is primarily well-developed and labeled with sufficient notes, such that the reader can get an overall sense of how the essay will build its argument; however, a few necessary elements may be unclear or missing. | Outline is not fully developed and/or labeling and notes are often unclear, such that the reader cannot easily get a sense of how the essay will build its argument; several necessary elements of the outline are unclear or missing. | Outline is not developed and/or labeling and notes are unclear or absent, such that the reader is unable to see how the essay will build its argument; most necessary elements of the outline are unclear or missing. |
StyleEstablish a consistent, informative tone and make thoughtful stylistic choices. | Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices, avoids redundancy and imprecise language, and uses a wide variety of sentence structures. | Demonstrates effective word choices, primarily avoids redundancy and imprecise language, and uses a variety of sentence structures. | Demonstrates generally effective style choices, but may include occasional redundancies, imprecise language, poor word choice, and/or repetitive sentence structures. | Frequently includes poor word choices, redundancies, imprecise language, and/or repetitive sentence structures. | Consistently demonstrates poor word choices, redundancies, imprecise language, and/or repetitive sentence structures. |
ConventionsFollow conventions for standard written English. | There are only a few, if any, negligible errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage. | There are occasional minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage. | There are some significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage. | There are frequent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage. | There are consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage. |
ReflectionAnswer reflection questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. | Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses, following or exceeding response length guidelines. | Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; includes multiple insights, observations, and/or examples, following response length guidelines. | Primarily demonstrates thoughtful reflection, but some responses are lacking in detail or insight; primarily follows response length guidelines. | Shows limited reflection; the majority of responses are lacking in detail or insight, with some questions left unanswered or falling short of response length guidelines. | No reflection responses are present. |