rubric - final capstone paper

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  • 8/2/2019 Rubric - Final Capstone Paper

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    Rubric for Senior Capstone Final Paper Final Bound copy due on Monday, March 26, 2012 - NO EXCEPTIONS!

    Area Criteria Description Max Points Example High Score Example Middle Score Example Low Score Points Earned

    Paper is a Research Thesis not a Report 30 available

    This is, perhaps, the single most important standard on

    the rubric. In essence, this paper must be a thesis that

    shows that researched materials support one or two

    well-articulated hypothesis(es). This is not a report

    where students write research (find information about)

    a topic and then report back what they have found. It isa research/thesis paper where they were to first develop

    questions to be answered, then construct

    hypothesis(es), followed by researching evidences, data,

    or by running experiments, and culminating in a well-

    defended thesis. The differences between a simple

    report (a restatement of uncovered information) and a

    thesis (a convincing written example of higher-order

    thinking and analysis as it is applied to a question,

    problem, or discovery) is one of the most important

    concepts emphasized in Capstone. It is not easy to

    articulate the differences between a thesis and a report

    in a short rubric description, but advisors should be

    confident that this topic was covered, discussed, and

    demonstrated throughout the Capstone course.

    30 30 = The research paper

    is a thesis paper. It

    makes a claim and then

    it substantiates the claim

    in an orderly and logical

    fashion. Evidences aregiven and information is

    compared and critiqued.

    There is very little room

    for the middle ground;

    well-defended thesis

    papers should receive a

    30, why reports (no

    matter how well written)should receive a 0.

    0 = The research paper

    is a report. It may be

    well written, but it simply

    presents information

    about a topic without

    critical analysis and alogical defense.

    Work Consistency and Advisor Collaboration... 30 available

    Final paper turned in by the due date having already

    been reviewed and approved by the advisor. In otherwords, when the final paper was handed in, the advisor

    had been given adequate time to review it and complete

    the half-sheet evaluation.

    10 10 = I was given the final

    paper with ample time toreview it and complete

    the form without feeling

    pressured.

    5 = I was given the final

    paper just in a nick oftime, and felt pressured

    to get it reviewed so that

    it could be turned in on

    time.

    0 = I was not given

    enough time to reviewthe paper, or I never

    even saw it.

    The student should have been working on the paper

    steadily and consistently all semester. This would be

    evident to the advisor by the number of student-initiated

    meetings and or communications. This rubric item

    assesses, then, students approach to writing with the

    aid of their selected advisor over the course of the

    semester.

    Advisors, ask yourself this: Knowing that Mr. Evans

    lectured on and even begged for students to write and

    communicate assignment standards, did your student

    always communicate these on a weekly basis?

    20 20 = The student

    initiated, scheduled and

    kept 2 to 3 regular

    weekly meetings during

    this past month to show

    writing progress and

    seek advice. The

    student was delightfully

    mature and self-

    initiating.

    10 = For most weeks,

    the student waited until

    the end of the week

    (Friday) to hand in work

    giving little or no time for

    adviser input.

    0 = The student rarely, if

    ever, contacted their

    advisor. Any meetings

    that did occur, only

    happened when the

    student was desperate

    for a deadline or

    signature. The

    advisor/advisee

    relationship was

    excuses and blame

    shifting.

    NOTE: This is

    to be graded

    by the advisor.

    Graders, leave

    this blank!

    Paper Mechanics... 90 available

    A spiral bound paper with plastic cover pages

    included...

    Title Page

    The Paper (an index was optional but encouraged)

    Sources/Resources/Bibliography

    Assignment Number 2: The Thesis.

    Appendices where necessary (optional)

    Citation Sampler with both in-text and source style

    examples so that the grader knows how to evaluate

    citation style.

    5 5 = Exactly as described 3 = Stapled and neat or

    missing an element or

    an element out of place.

    0 = A stack of loose

    pages was handed in.

    One or more missing

    elements.

    A title page including all relevant details should start the

    paper. Additional information is okay so long as you do

    not think the student is going overboard.

    5 5 = All elements:

    __ Course name

    __ Paper Title (subtitles

    are fine too) Capstone

    is NOT a title!

    __ Student's name

    __ Advisor's name

    __ Capstone teacher

    __ Due date

    0 = No title page

    Abstract is well written. Thesis statement is bold within

    the abstract. The abstract provides an adequate

    summary of why the topic is important, what they were

    seeking to find and the end result.

    10 10 = All elements are

    present.

    0 = There is no abstract.

    Format is consistent throughout. The student idented

    paragraphs and has no extra spacing after each

    paragraph. The paper is double-spaced throughout, in

    12 point Times New Roman font with 1 inch (2.5 cm

    margins) and printed on A4 paper. (Footnotes may be

    as small as 10 point font.)

    10 10 = style is consistent

    throughout.

    0 = Style is either a

    hybrid or inconsistent

    throughout.

  • 8/2/2019 Rubric - Final Capstone Paper

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    Spelling 10 10 = I found no spelling

    mistakes.

    0 = The paper was full of

    spelling errors. The

    student could not

    possibly have even

    opened the spell

    checker function!

    Grammar 20 20 = I found no

    grammatical mistakes.

    0 = The paper was full of

    grammar errors. The

    student could not

    possibly have even

    opened the grammar

    checker function!

    The capstone paper is to be of sufficient length to

    adequately cover the chosen topic, and should be a

    minimum length of 3000 words (not including text in

    charts, graphs, citations, the source listings and

    such). This will put most papers in the range of 10 - 11

    full length pages of prose alone if absolutely no graphics

    are included, and then go up from there. Count the

    words on an average page and multiply by the number

    of pages. If it is close, give the benefit of the doubt to

    the student. Asking the student for an electronic copy

    in a word processor format (not PDF) may also help with

    counting should you feel that it is necessary to do so.

    Papers also have a maximum size, they should not

    exceed 4000 words.

    30

    Data and Calculations...

    0 to a max

    of 10

    Data, when needed, were arranged in tables. 5 or NA 5 = Yes, always 0 = No, necessary data

    were not presented at all

    Calculations and derivations were clearly presented and

    easy to follow when necessary to support a point

    5 or NA 5 = Yes, always 0 = No, necessary

    equations were not

    presented even when

    needed

    Illustrations, Charts and Graphs... 10 available

    All illustrations, schematics, diagrams, plans, charts and

    graphs that were needed were present. These graphic

    elements were logically placed near the concept being

    written about. The elements were explained and

    understandable. A synergy exists between the textual

    and graphical content of the paper, one enhancing the

    comprehensibility of the other. The prose is aided and

    enhanced by necessary graphics. No superfluous

    pictures, illustrations, charts or graphs were added as

    fluff.

    10 10 = Yes, always 0 = Graphics were never

    employed to clarify and

    explain, and when

    graphics were used,

    they were unnecessary

    Papers structure... 60 available

    Paper included a well-defined thesis statement that

    introduced the subject and establishes the thesis and

    document plan.

    5 5 = Yes 0 = No

    The thesis paper follows the original plan, that is, it

    follows the plan and goals laid out at the beginning of

    the semester. Did the students research the topic that

    they said that they would research? Students

    sometimes modify their papers to follow a different

    topic, but this is not permitted. You will need to refer to

    a document that should be attached in the appendices.

    Do not grade this rubric item based on whether or not

    the original assignment is attached; that's handled later

    in the rubric section, "Attachments in the Appendices".

    20 20 = The research paper

    follows the research plan

    and goals laid out earlier

    in the semester.

    0 = The student

    completely dropped the

    original research idea

    and pursued another

    topic.

    The paper uses language that i s professional and

    understandable. The paper avoids the use of I, me,

    you and other such personal language. Vocabulary is

    on par with a senior-level, academic capstone paper.

    10 10 = Yes, always 0 = The paper is full of

    personal, non-academic

    language and the

    vocabulary is either

    concocted from anoverused thesaurus or is

    simple and childish

    The central purpose of the paper is always apparent to

    the reader and the paper logically follows an obvious

    outline. The ideas are arranged logically and the paper

    flows smoothly. One idea is clearly linked to the next.

    10 10 = The paper always

    stays on task

    0 = The paper meanders

    aimlessly and it is

    apparent that no outline

    was ever used

    Relevant and legitimate (scholarly) examples clearly

    support the central thesis. The text provides clear and

    detailed evidence for all claims.

    10 10 = The thesis is

    supported by well-

    researched and

    presented supporting

    information

    0 = The paper is mostly

    opinion and

    unsupported assertions

    The writing is interesting and hooks the reader. It

    sustains interest throughout.

    5 5 = This paper really

    grabbed me

    0 = Boring and

    completely flat. I could

    barely finish it.

    30 = 3000 - 4000 words.

    2 point deducted for each 100 words under 3000 or for each 100 words

    over 4000.

    Do not exceed 30 points.

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    Citations and Sources... 60 available

    References are primarily peer-reviewed professional

    journals where possible ). Consider the resources that

    the Internet has to offer. Did the student choose wisely

    from the Internet and other available materials?

    10 10 = Excellent,

    academic or

    professional resources

    were researched and

    cited

    0 = The sources were

    highly suspect and

    should not have been a

    trusted source of

    information

    Quoted text is rarely done and only when the text is

    quoted for historic or artistic value

    5 5 = No quoted text was

    used or when it was

    used, the text itself was

    intrinsically quote-

    worthy

    0 = The student

    copied/pasted then

    quoted large blocks of

    text just to avoid writing.

    All ideas that are not commonly known to humanity in

    general and therefore represent the ideas of a source,

    need to be cited!!! It is plagiarism if sentences from a

    source are word-replaced/modified. It is plagiarism if

    ideas are not credited. Frankly, the paper should be

    CHOCK FULL OF CITATIONS!!!

    10 10 = The paper is full of

    citations

    0 = Citations were rarely

    used or were used as an

    afterthought to satisfy a

    requirement for

    citations. Ideas that

    were clearly not the

    students were not cited.

    Citations should be correctly formatted. This depends

    on the style chosen by the student in conjunction with

    his/her advisor. Advisors were to be consulted on this

    issue.

    5 5 = There are many

    styles out there, the

    student always used the

    correct style.

    0 = Citations do not

    follow the style that we

    agreed upon.

    Sources are correctly formatted. This depends on the

    style chosen by the student in conjunction with his/her

    advisor. Advisors were to be consulted on this issue.

    5 5 = Same as above, the

    style follows what the

    student agreed to do.

    0 = The Source page is

    not formatted as agreed

    upon.

    All sources are real. Do a spot check of a few of the

    listed web sources to make sure that they are real and

    that the information cited came from there.

    5 5 = All sources check

    out

    There is no middle

    ground here.

    A bad source is not a

    zero, it is academic

    dishonestly. Report

    instances of academicdishonesty to the

    Capstone teacher.

    A significant number of academic sources was

    employed.

    20

    Attachments in the Appendices... 20 available

    Attached a copy of the original assignment describing

    the thesis topic (Week 10) in detail. This should be the

    LAST section at the BACK of the paper.

    It would be difficult to evaluate the paper as to whether

    a student did what they said they would in the absence

    of this attachment. If it is missing, you may want to

    mark the paper down AND go see the capstone teacher

    for advice or input.

    10 10 = copy attached. 0 = Copy was not

    attached, had to go ask

    for it.

    Attached a copy of the citation styles sampler that

    informs the advisor as to the standard (MLA, APA, or

    Chicago) and how the sources and citations should be

    formatted.

    10 10 = copy attached. 0 = Copy was not

    attached, had to go ask

    for it.

    Total Points Available (will vary from 300 to 310): Total Points Awarded:

    12 or more: 20-points

    9 - 11: 15-points

    6 - 8: 10 points

    3 - 5: 5-points

    0 - 2: 0 points