Looking in Detail at a Research Paper Grading Rubric for Middle School
A research paper grading rubric middle school is important as it guides the markers on the final marks or score to award. As a student, it lets you know how to write the paper if you want to score high grades. The exact research paper rubric for middle school may vary from one institution to the other but the example below provides useful source and guide on how it should ideally be –
- Introduction:
The top grade paper has exceptional introduction which grabs the attention and interest of the reader. The second grade paper may have introduction which can be described as ‘proficient’, as it states the topic well. The third grade paper has introduction that states the topic well but is not interesting. The lowest grade paper has a weak introduction, or none to the topic. - Thesis:
A top grade paper will thesis that is exceptionally well-developed, arguable, clear and definitive statement. A paper immediately below the top grade will have thesis that is clear and provides arguable statement of position. An average paper will have thesis that is somehow clear and very arguable. A poorly written paper is one in which the purpose of the paper is not very clear, and the thesis may be missing or weak. - Support of Thesis:
In the top grade middle school paper, the support for thesis is relevant, consistent and critical, and makes connections between the evidence and the thesis. For paper just below the top grade, it makes consistent connections between the evidence and the thesis. In average grade paper, it makes some connections between the evidence and the thesis. The lowest paper in this category only makes limited connections, or none at all, between the evidence and the thesis. - Organization and Development of Thesis:
A top grade paper in this category is exceptionally logical, mature, clear, and gives thorough and clear development of thesis. It provides excellent transitions both between and within the paragraphs. In the next grade, the paper provides clear and logical order which provides support for the thesis and has good transitions both between and within the paragraphs. Next, he paper is somewhat clear, and has a logical development with only the basic transitions both between and within the paragraphs. Lowest in this category, the paper lacks development of ideas and has weak and probably, no transitions exist between and also within the paragraphs. - Conclusion:
In top grade paper, the conclusion is an excellent summary of the topic and has concluding ideas of impact to the reader. The next grade paper provides good summary of the topic and has clear concluding ideas. For paper below the top two grades, the conclusion is a basic summary of the topic and has some final concluding ideas. Lowest in this category is that has no conclusion, or it contains irrelevant information, or introduces new ideas.
This is a typical research paper rubric middle school and can be used in the grading of most papers. Each category may be out of 20. With the top paper in the category getting between 16 and 20; a paper below the top grade getting between 11 and 15; average paper getting between 6 and 10; and a low grade paper getting between 0 and 5.