Rubric for Evaluating the Introduction and Conclusion

RUBRIC FOR EVALUATING THE INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION

Introduction and Conclusion

Which technique(s) did the writer use for the introduction?

Yes No Comment Does the introduction catch your interest and introduce the topic?

Yes No Comment Does the introduction include a thesis statement? If yes, is it near the end of the introduction?

Yes No Comment Does the conclusion restate the focus and supporting points of the paper? If yes, does it do so in a new way?

What, if any, conclusion technique(s) does the writer use?

Yes No Comment Do the introduction and conclusion fit together smoothly? How are they linked?

Thesis Statement

Yes No Comments

Does the thesis state the topic of the paper?

Does the thesis state the focus of the paper?

Does it include an overview of the supporting points?

Are the supporting points logically connected to the focus?

Does the thesis use appropriate language?

*Answer the questions for each topic sentence that introduces a supporting point. Identify which topic sentences have problems in the comments box. Yes No Comments

Does each topic sentence repeat the focus of the thesis?

Does each topic sentence repeat one of the supporting points?

Do the topic sentences use new language rather than repeating words from the thesis?

Do the topic sentences use guiding language effectively?

Sourcework 3 Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. RUBRIC FOR WELL-CONSTRUCTED PARAGRAPHS Six evaluation forms are included. Write the number of each paragraph you evaluate, so the writer can clearly see which paragraph you have evaluated. Use these rubrics for paragraphs in the body of the paper only. A separate rubric is available for evaluating the introduction and conclusion.

Yes No Comments Paragraph # _____

Does the paragraph have a topic sentence written in the writer’s own words? Does the paragraph contain at least one piece of evidence? Is the evidence smoothly integrated? Does the paragraph have a concluding sentence or clear transition to the next paragraph?

Use the rubrics to evaluate how well the write has integrated his or her evidence into the paragraph. You will use one rubric for each paragraph.

Evidence from paragraph # ______

Yes No Comment Is the evidence appropriate for the point the writer is making? The first time a source is used does the writer introduce the evidence with the name of the author or source title? Does the writer explain the evidence either before or after the paraphrase? Does the writer clearly connect the evidence to the point he/she is making? Has the writer avoided dumping the evidence?

Sourcework 6 Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. RUBRIC FOR EVALUATING DOCUMENTION OF EVIDENCE Checking to make sure all evidence within a paper is correctly documented requires some careful attention to detail. To evaluate yours, or your partner’s, documentation of evidence use the following sequence.

1. Find the first piece of evidence.  What is the name of the source?______

 What is the name of the author?______

First use of a source Ye No Comments

Is the author’s first and last name included within the sentence? Does the date of the source appear in parentheses, directly after the author’s last name? Is the title of the source included? Is the source title in quotation marks?

2. Look through the paper and find all the other times evidence from this source is used. If your answer to one of the questions is “no,” write a number next to the evidence (in the paper) and in the comment box below, so the writer knows which citations need to be corrected. All other uses of the source Yes No Comment *Write an identifying number for each piece of evidence with a “no” answer. Is the author’s last name included either within the sentence or within parentheses at the end of the sentence? Does the date appear either  within parentheses after the author’s name, or  at the end of the sentence, directly after the author? For end of text citations, is the author’s last name and the date placed in parentheses at the end of the sentence? Is the period outside the right parenthetical mark?

Sourcework 7 Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 3. Complete this two-part review for each additional source. First, check the documentation for the first time evidence from the source is used. Then, check the documentation for all other times the source is used.

Source name ______

Author name ______

First use of a source Ye No Comments

Is the author’s first and last name included within the sentence? Does the date of the source appear in parentheses, directly after the author’s last name? Is the title of the source included? Is the source title in quotation marks?

All other uses of the source Yes No Comment *Write an identifying number for each piece of evidence with a “no” answer. Is the author’s last name included either within the sentence or within parentheses at the end of the sentence? Does the date appear either  within parentheses after the author’s name, or  at the end of the sentence, directly after the author? For end of text citations, is the author’s last name and the date placed in parentheses at the end of the sentence? Is the period outside the right parenthetical mark?

RUBRIC FOR PARAPHRASES OF EVIDENCE Use these rubrics to evaluate the content of each paraphrase. The evaluator will need a copy of the original for each paraphrase.

Yes No Comment Does the paraphrase have the same meaning as the original? No new ideas added. No main ideas deleted? Does the writer use his/her own words to explain the idea? Does the writer provide background information, if needed, to explain the idea?

Paraphrase # ______

Yes No Comment Does the paraphrase have the same meaning as

Sourcework 10 Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. the original? No new ideas added. No main ideas deleted? Does the writer use his/her own words to explain the idea? Does the writer provide background information, if needed, to explain the idea?

Paraphrase # ______