Grading Rubrics
Below you will find the writing assessment sheet used by Criminology, Law & Society faculty. The Writing Assessment is designed to help faculty assess the overall writing abilities of students in the major. The assessment is not designed to replace your professor’s assignment, instructions or guidance; but is meant to serve as a guide to help you focus on specific aspects of writing when completing your assignments. Please consider each of the categories and goals discussed in the assessment when writing your papers.
Criminology, Law & Society Scoring Sheet for Writing Assessment
1. Purpose
- Addresses the assignment question/issue
- Introduction: provides clear sense of content/topic
- Introduction engages reader (has a hook)
- Clear statement of position
- Engages reader’s interest
- Appropriate to audience
- Presentation (form/genre) is appropriate
- Appropriate voice/tone
Highly Competent [ ] Competent [ ] Emerging Competence [ ] Not Competent [ ]
2. Structure of argument
- Logical flow of introduction with purpose explicit somewhere in the introduction
- Has a consistent and logical argument
- Organization: well-organized flow, repetition of key words, topic sentences, transitions between paragraphs
- Conceptual sophistication/style reflects complexity of thought
- Accurate use of headings as appropriate
Highly Competent [ ] Competent [ ] Emerging Competence [ ] Not Competent [ ]
3. Support of Argument
- Demonstrates knowledge of material
- Sources used appropriately to support points
- Sources integrated into arguments
- Includes empirical/reality-based evidence (quantitative or qualitative) as appropriate
- Balanced treatment of ideas/issues
Highly Competent [ ] Competent [ ] Emerging Competence [ ] Not Competent [ ]
4. Writing Mechanics
- Documentation and citation: sufficient and consistent, including one style of citation used adequately and correctly throughout the paper; adequate number of sources referenced; paraphrases and quotations used appropriately and fully cited.
- Correct incorporation of citation at the sentence level
- Understands how to construct sentences/paragraphs
- Word choice, syntax, grammar, spelling, and punctuation
- Uses consistent voice and tone
- Appropriate use of first person
- Uses active voice
- Avoids contractions, slang, vague pronouns
Highly Competent [ ] Competent [ ] Emerging Competence [ ] Not Competent [ ]
5. Independent Thought
- Develops own line of reasoning and/or applies knowledge
- Synthesizes knowledge, not just regurgitation or summary
- Provides interesting/valuable insights
Highly Competent [ ] Competent [ ] Emerging Competence [ ] Not Competent [ ]
OVERALL SCORE
Highly Competent [ ] Competent [ ] Emerging Competence [ ] Not Competent [ ]