Final Research Project [50% of the Final Grade]

A

B

C

D

Source Use/

Evidence

Uses multiple primary sources to support the paper’s arguments; is in dialogue with a secondary source or uses information found in secondary sources to support, complicate, or provide evidence for the argument; uses APA (or another approved citation style) for citing direct quotations, paraphrasing, and referencing information taken from a particular source

Uses multiple primary sources to support the papers arguments; uses secondary sources for additional information; uses APA (or another approved citation style) for citing direct quotations, paraphrasing, and referencing information taken from a particular source

Includes an inadequate amount of primary sources; poor use of secondary sources; uses APA (or another approved citation style) for citing direct quotations, paraphrasing, and referencing information taken from a particular source

Very few primary and secondary sources; citations are inconsistent or there are significant omissions or errors

Analysis

Clearly and thoroughly explains the connections between the evidence and main ideas; makes explicit connections between sources; connects sources to larger themes; thoroughly discusses the implications of the evidence and its larger significance

Explains the connections between the evidence and main ideas; makes connections between multiple sources; connects sources to larger themes; discusses the implications of the evidence and its larger significance

Somewhat explains connections between the evidence and main ideas; does not elaborate on conclusions and lacks sophisticated use of evidence; makes overgeneralizations that are not fully supported

Uses little evidence; rarely makes connections between the evidence and main ideas; does not elaborate or fully support conclusions

Argument

Clear argumentative thesis statement included in the introduction; signposts to the argument appear throughout the paper

Includes an argumentative thesis that runs through most of the paper

Thesis is stated but parts of the paper are not connected to the thesis

Thesis is implied, absent, or poorly articulated

Importance

Thoroughly explains how a historical event, person, or experience is important in its particular historical moment and how it is also meaningful today or in the larger narrative of the formation of modern North America

Explains how a historical event, person, or experience is important in its particular historical moment and how it is also meaningful today or in the larger narrative of the formation of modern North America

Begins to explain how a historical event, person, or experience is important in its particular historical moment and how it is also meaningful today or in the larger narrative of the formation of modern North America

Begins to discuss how a historical event, person, or experience is important in its particular historical moment but lacks a discussion of its larger significance

Writing Mechanics

Well-organized paragraphs with topic sentences; transitions between paragraphs; includes an introduction and conclusion; writing style is clear; very few spelling and grammatical errors

Has paragraphs centered around a particular topic and many have topic sentences; transitions between most paragraphs; has an introduction and a conclusion; writing style is mostly clear; few spelling and grammatical errors

Many ideas per paragraph; few topic sentences; abrupt or rough transitions; includes errors that could be avoided through proofreading; has an introduction and, at the very least, concluding sentences

Many ideas per paragraph; no transitions; lacks a successful introduction or conclusion; poorly organized; many grammatical and spelling errors; unclear due to poor sentence structure or other mechanical issues

Wiki

See above, keeping in mind a successful Wiki will takes advantage of the format and include images (as points of visual interest, representation, or sources to analyze); while a Wiki will probably not have the same paragraph structure as a paper, it is composed of well-organized parts or sections