What is a research paper rubric and what is it used for? Research paper rubrics are specific guidelines, which are used by the students in the process of writing their research papers in order to make them informative and develop the topics accurately. It is a well-known fact that academic research papers requirements are quite high, so students should use them as models for writing their papers.
However, a rubric for research paper is a kind of a scoring tool, frequently used by professors to assess their students’ research papers as well. They are usually evaluated with regard to specific criteria, according to which the professor will define whether your research paper corresponds to each rubric. Grading rubrics contain one or more criteria on which the paper’s content, structure, style and other aspects are rated. Among the main and generally accepted research paper rubrics the following ones should be mentioned:
- The Paper’s Content. This rubric helps the instructor evaluate the quality and accuracy of information contained in your research paper. Your professor will define whether the topic is developed correctly according to the following criteria:
- comprehensible, brief and verifiable thesis statement;
- usage of adequate facts to convey the message and the stated thesis;
- appropriate and sufficient information to explain and prove the arguments you apply in the research paper.
- Research Paper Organization and Structure. This rubric is focused on the way your ideas are presented and arranged in the research paper. The most important criteria applied here are:
- research paper introduction, which should incorporate the paper’s general description, attention-drawing quotation and thesis statement;
- the body of the research paper, which should be comprised of the paragraphs that are related to the thesis stated in the introduction. Paragraphs should be united by the general topic represented by the logically arranged sentences. Transitions used to arrange the sentences appropriately are paid special attention to as well;
- the conclusion that has to correspond to the thesis and the topic of the research paper and sum up the ideas and facts discovered in the process of conducting the research;
- specific format specifications, such as titling, page numbers and headers, margins, spacing, properly structured sections, citation requirements etc.
- Research Paper’s Language and Style. This research paper rubric focuses on the assessment of the following criteria:
- sentence structure organization;
- versatility of language and vocabulary presented in the paper;
- general tone of the research paper and its objectivity and appropriateness.
- Research Paper’s Mechanics. The assessor pays special attention to punctuation, spelling and grammar mistakes (if any).
All students, who are expected to write informative research papers, have to consider the above mentioned research paper rubrics to meet their professors’ standard requirements.