Research Paper Rubric Excellent Competent Needs Work/Missing Purpose · The paper’s central thesis is readily apparent throughout the paper. · The paper has a clear thesis but sometimes digresses from it. · The paper’s thesis is not consistently clear throughout the paper. Subject Content · The paper contains a balanced presentation of relevant and legitimate information that clearly supports the thesis. · The paper demonstrates an in-depth analysis of the topic. · The paper provides reasonable support for the thesis. Additional evidence would have strengthened the thesis. · The paper contains a general analysis of the topic. · The paper is missing important/relevant content and/or there are little to no examples to support the thesis. · The paper contains a vague or no analysis of the topic. Organization · The paper is arranged logically to support the thesis. Ideas flow smoothly from one to another. · The reader can follow the line of reasoning. · The paper is arranged somewhat logically to support the thesis. Ideas occasionally fail to link together. · The reader is fairly clear about what the writer intends. · The paper is not logically organized. Ideas fail to make sense together. · The reader cannot follow the writer’s line of reasoning. References · All the references used are important and are of good/scholarly quality. · The paper uses a minimum of five reputable and relevant book or article sources and cites them in proper MLA format. · Most of the references used are important and of good/scholarly quality. · The paper uses a minimum of five reputable and relevant book or article sources and cites them, although not in proper MLA format. · Most of the references used are not important and/or are not of good/scholarly quality. · The paper used less than five book or article sources. They were either not reputable or relevant or cited properly. Format/ Layout · The paper closely follows all of the requirements related to format and layout. · The paper follows most of the requirements related to format and layout. · The paper poorly follows the requirements related to format and layout. Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling · There are few or no errors in grammar, mechanics, or spelling. · There are several minor errors in grammar, mechanics, or spelling. · There are numerous errors in grammar, mechanics, or spelling. OVERALL GRADE: 200 level REL courses, SH SH, 2013 Religion WI Courses Paper Writing Guidelines FORMAT · Type the following in the top left or top right corner of your paper: Name Class Professor’s name Date · Type a descriptive title for your essay and center it on the page. · Introduce your subject matter in the first paragraph. Type what you will accomplish in your essay. State your thesis, or your argument. · In the body paragraphs of your essay, use evidence to support your argument. Cite specific examples and sources. Whenever you make assertions, document your claims with references. Whenever you wish to ...

1. Research Paper Rubric
Excellent
Competent
Needs Work/Missing
Purpose
· The paper’s central thesis is readily apparent throughout the
paper.
· The paper has a clear thesis but sometimes digresses from it.
· The paper’s thesis is not consistently clear throughout the
paper.
Subject Content
· The paper contains a balanced presentation of relevant and
legitimate information that clearly supports the thesis.
· The paper demonstrates an in-depth analysis of the topic.
· The paper provides reasonable support for the thesis.
Additional evidence would have strengthened the thesis.
· The paper contains a general analysis of the topic.
· The paper is missing important/relevant content and/or there
are little to no examples to support the thesis.
· The paper contains a vague or no analysis of the topic.
Organization
· The paper is arranged logically to support the thesis. Ideas
flow smoothly from one to another.
· The reader can follow the line of reasoning.
· The paper is arranged somewhat logically to support the
thesis. Ideas occasionally fail to link together.
· The reader is fairly clear about what the writer intends.
· The paper is not logically organized. Ideas fail to make sense
together.
· The reader cannot follow the writer’s line of reasoning.
References
· All the references used are important and are of
good/scholarly quality.

2. · The paper uses a minimum of five reputable and relevant book
or article sources and cites them in proper MLA format.
· Most of the references used are important and of
good/scholarly quality.
· The paper uses a minimum of five reputable and relevant book
or article sources and cites them, although not in proper MLA
format.
· Most of the references used are not important and/or are not of
good/scholarly quality.
· The paper used less than five book or article sources. They
were either not reputable or relevant or cited properly.
Format/ Layout
· The paper closely follows all of the requirements related to
format and layout.
· The paper follows most of the requirements related to format
and layout.
· The paper poorly follows the requirements related to format
and layout.
Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling
· There are few or no errors in grammar, mechanics, or spelling.
· There are several minor errors in grammar, mechanics, or
spelling.
· There are numerous errors in grammar, mechanics, or spelling.
OVERALL GRADE:
200 level REL courses, SH
SH, 2013
Religion WI Courses
Paper Writing Guidelines
FORMAT
· Type the following in the top left or top right corner of your

3. paper:
Name
Class
Professor’s name
Date
· Type a descriptive title for your essay and center it on the
page.
· Introduce your subject matter in the first paragraph. Type
what you will accomplish in your essay. State your thesis, or
your argument.
· In the body paragraphs of your essay, use evidence to support
your argument. Cite specific examples and sources. Whenever
you make assertions, document your claims with references.
Whenever you wish to quote someone else, you must put their
statements in quotations and cite your source. Do not
plagiarize. You can also use charts/diagrams/pictures/etc as
evidence but they should be in an appendix at the end of the
paper and do not count toward the final page count.
· In the conclusion, restate your argument and raise questions
relevant to your conclusion.
· Research papers should not merely include a summary of the
topic you researched. You need to include some considerable
analysis. After selecting and researching your topic come up
with a ‘how’ or ‘why’ question to guide your analysis.
Questions starting with ‘how’ or ‘why’ often drive at the
significance of your topic. For example, let’s say your topic
was the Hindu festival Holi:

4. · An ‘okay’ paper might include who celebrates Holi, when,
where, and the process or things involved in celebrating the
holiday.
· A great analysis paper might address the following questions,
(which drive at the significance or deeper meaning) : why does
the festival continue to be celebrated every year? How might
the festival reinforce what it means to be a Hindu? Why are
colored liquids and powders thrown on everyone (essentially
you would be exploring the symbolic meaning of the objects
here)? How has the festival changed over time and why? How
does the festival differ among sub-groups or geographical lines?
Why? From researching the answers to these questions you will
be able to form a strong thesis argument.
· Use page numbers at the bottom right of your pages.
· When citing a source, use MLA formatting. If you need
assistance with this, google ‘MLA citation machine.’ BibMe is
one program that can assist you with this (www.bibme.org)
· Use block quotations for quotations four lines or longer.
Block quotations are single spaced and indented. You do not
use quotation marks for block quotations. Example:
According to Wayne Teasdale, mystical life:
Awakens in us the possibility for real spontaneity in our actions
and responses to others. This spontaneity inspires us to acts of
kindness, mercy, compassion, love, charity, patience, and
gentleness. Spontaneity again highlights an other-centered
focus, often to a heroic degree of selflessness; it is a very
significant part of the social dimension of spirituality.
Notice that I kept spontaneity in italics as the author did. This

5. is because you keep the style that the author used.
STYLE
· Do not abbreviate. For example: use ‘do not’ instead of
‘don’t’
· Use ‘he/she’ when you need a pronoun that is not gender
specific. In other words, refer to both sexes.
· Do not use the same word over and over again. Use a
thesaurus when necessary. However, make sure you only use
words you can define.
· Do not use the first person. (do not use ‘I,’ ‘me,’ ‘we,’ etc.)
MECHANICS
· Check your spelling!
· Avoid run on sentences.
· Do not use fragments or incomplete sentences.
· Be consistent with your use of tenses.
· Make sure your subjects and verbs agree.
· Use proper punctuation.
· Proofread your essay.
DRAFT GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Use the spell-check feature prior to printing your paper. This
is a helpful tool that catches simple spelling errors. If, while
reading your paper, it becomes apparent to me that you did not
use it, I will return your paper to you ungraded and you will be
docked a letter grade on the assignment.
· For your first draft, please turn in a minimum of 3-4 full pages
and a bibliography page.
· For your second draft, please turn in a minimum of 6 full
pages and a bibliography page. This draft should reflect
changes you’ve made since your first draft.
FINAL PAPER GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Your final research paper is due during week fourteen (Nov.

6. 23-27).
Please contact me early into the semester if you have any
questions. I am here to help you develop an excellent research
paper! (
� Teasdale, Wayne. The Mystic Heart. Novato, CA: New World
Library, 2001. p.168