Appendix 4 to Local History, Local Complexities: Revised Rubric for UL Lafayette First-Year Writing Program

Poor

Satisfactory

Outstanding

Content

• Topic is too broad and general for a paper of its length
• No clear main idea or sustained position in the paper (or argument is incredible to an academic audience)
• Argument, if present, is unsupported,or evidence is insufficient
• Paper is overly reliant on cliches orculturally conditioned/ ethnocentricassumptions and bias
• Sources, if used, are used inappropriately (data dump, awkwardintegration, unintentional plagiarism,etc.)

• Topic is manageable for a paper of its length
• Position/argument is comprehensible even if not clearly stated
• Amount of evidence is sufficient
• Demonstrates critical thinking (ability to recognizecomplexity, biases, andstereotypical representations; distinguishing fact from opinion)
• Use of sources is appropriate; no serious problems with integration of other materials

• Topic is narrow enough to allow for a rigorous, nuanced treatment of the subject
• Thesis is stated clearly
• Evidence is ample to support positiontaken
• Contains some acknowledgment of opposing/divergent views
• Sources are used purposefully and strategically, integrated seamlessly

Organization

• Introduction does not orient the reader to the concerns of the paper or contextualize the subject of the paper
• Arrangement of the paper is haphazard and random
• Paragraphs do not have transitions that guide the reader from one idea tothe next
• Conclusion is absent or abrupt

• Introduction isrecognizable even if it is not always reader-based
• Paragraphs generally treat one idea at a time
• Attempts at transitions betweenparagraphs are made, even if they are awkward
• Conclusion provides some closure to the argument, even ifonly a summaryof the main points

• Paper contains aclear, reader-based introduction, development, conclusion
• Logical, smooth transitions between sections
• Plan of development stated (forecasting statement, self-announcing structure toargument)
• Conclusion does more than just summarize thepaper; restates the thesis in a fresh way or includes a gesture (call for action,unresolved questions, etc.)

Language Issues

• Frequency of error (of any type) seriously detracts from the content of the paper

• Grammar, punctuation, and spelling are mostly correct
• Student shows command of language (word choice/ vocabulary)
• Varied sentence structure

• Paper is virtually free of error
• Writer shows an unusual felicity with regard to word choice, turns of phrase (ex. uses obscure words, bon mots)
• Sentence structure is complex but not cumbersome