Criteria for Evaluating Papers
An "A" paper has the following elements:
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A clearly formulated central question.
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Good, clear thesis statement.
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Good, clear arguments; and each argument supported by evidence and/or plausible example. May offer unique arguments or evidence that others missed.
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Excellent analytical and critical skills.
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Paper revolves around the central question and addresses the question effectively.
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Paper is well organized with few errors in sentence structure, spelling, footnotes and other mechanics.
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Demonstrate sufficient research in academic literature, good command of the material, and adequate and informative reference page
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Excellent job on those critical aspects of writing a good paper addressed in the general guidelines
A "B" paper has the following elements:
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An adequate description of the problem, but too many questions without a focus.
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Thesis statement is clear, but more weakly stated than in an "A" paper.
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It advances good arguments and tries to supply evidence or example to back up each one.
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Good analytical and critical skills.
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Paper tries to address the question.
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Generally a good job. Well organized and clearly written with few errors.
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Good research in academic literature and reference page is informative.
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Good job on those critical aspects of writing a good paper addressed in the general guidelines
A "C" paper must have some description of the problem, a thesis, an argument and evidence. However, a "C" will have one or more of the following characteristics:
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Lack of clearly stated central question or incomplete description of the problem.
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Failure to address intended audience (assumes reader knows the issue; reason or evidence left unstated).
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Weak or unclear thesis statement.
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Does not address the question sufficiently and effectively
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Arguments are advanced, but they are not clearly stated, often no sufficient evidence or example is offered. Sometimes it makes contradictory arguments.
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Have some problems with articulation of ideas, transitions, organization, clarity, or spelling and mechanics.
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Insufficient research in academic literature and reference page does not have adequate academic references
A "D" paper may have one or more of the following characteristics:
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Lack of clearly stated central question or incomplete description of the problem.
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Failure to address intended audience.
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No thesis statement.
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Does not address the question sufficiently and effectively.
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Lack of logical arguments and evidence or examples in support of arguments. Making contradictory arguments.
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Try to describe something of interest, but fail to explain something of academic significance. Simply lump things together or repeat what other people have said or reported.
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Have problems with articulation of ideas, transitions, organization, clarity, or spelling and mechanics.
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May do a good research in such non-academic sources as newspapers, Internet, and non-academic magazines and books, but little research is done in academic literature. No or few academic references. It looks more like a journalist article than an academic paper.
An "F" paper:
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Didn't submit the paper.
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Plagiarism.
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Didn't do the paper topic as approved by instructor or the paper topic does not fit the course theme.
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If a paper is submitted, an "F" has one or more of the following characterisics:
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Doesn't describe problem or do not have a central question.
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Poorly organized, poor development of arguments, ideas, little or no evidence offered in support of arguments made.
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Do not address any question or intended question(s).
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Overquotes. No analysis attempted
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No evidence of having read or used academic reference source.
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Generally sloppy and lack of clarity with too many typing errors, misspelled words and poor articulation.
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No reference page.
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Inaccurate information.