PSYCHOLOGY 461
HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY
COURSE PAPER RUBRIC

 

Below Expectations (1)

(2)

Meets Expectations (3)

(4)

Exceeds Expectations (5)

I.
Reasoning

1. Presentation is illogical, disordered.
2. Inferences are unsupported by evidence.
3. Ideas are presented without attention to synthesis.

  

1. Logical, orderly presentation is apparent.
2. Inferences are supported by evidence.
3. Effort is made to synthesize ideas from different sources.

  

1. The writing is logical, orderly, internally consistent, and well developed. Elegant.
2. Inferences are well supported by evidence.
3. Ideas are well synthesized, following an established outline.

II.
Communication

1. Word choice is inappropriate. Informal, stilted, arcane, or idiosyncratic.
2. Incoherent organization fails to lead to the intended conclusion.
3. Lack of awareness of reader’s perspective.
4. Poorly formed sentences and paragraphs, with many awkward passages.
5. Heavy reliance on quotations or paraphrasing.

  

1. Word choice is acceptable for the intended audience.
2. Generally good although obvious organization.
3. Shows awareness of reader’s perspective.
4. Sentences and paragraphs relate to each other, though connections are occasionally remote or obscure.
5. Original writing supported with occasional quotations, paraphrasing.

  

1. Words are well chosen. Scholarly expository style
2. Organization is so excellent as to be unnoticed.
3. Appreciation of reader’s perspective is obvious.
4. Writing is flowing and easy to follow.
5. Limited quotations and paraphrasing well integrated with original writing.

III.
Technical Usage

 1. Inappropriately chooses lay terminology when technical terminology is appropriate.
2. Uses technical terminology incorrectly.		   1. Generally makes the appropriate choice of lay language or technical language.
2. Uses technical terminology correctly.		   1. Technical language or lay language is appropriately selected.
2. Usage is precise, appropriate, parsimonious and enlightening.

IV.
Grammar

 1. Grammatical errors substantially detract from the communication.   1. Grammatical errors are minimal and do not detract from the communication.   1. The document is free of grammatical errors.

V.
APA Style

 1. Many features of APA style are ignored.   1. Few errors in APA style and most are inconsequential.   1. APA style is employed perfectly.

VI.
Mechanics

 1. Spelling, punctuation, or format errors are abundant.   1. Minimal spelling, punctuation, or format errors.   1. No spelling, punctuation, or format errors.

VII.
Content/Focus

 1. Sources of ideas are inadequately documented.
2. No evidence of purpose or direction. Unclear theme.
3. Excessive reliance on biography of historical figures.
4. Scant or no coverage of events preceding icon, or those following icon, or those in the icon itself.		   1. Sources of ideas are mostly documented, some inferences needed.

2. Purpose and direction discernable. Theme is clear and partially limited.
3. Biographical details are subordinate to the psychological contributions of historical figures
4. Events preceding icon, following icon, and the icon itself are all clearly represented.

   1. Sources of ideas clearly documented for further research.
2. Clear purpose and direction. Theme captures reader’s attention and sustains the paper.
3. Focus is clearly on the psychological contributions of historical figures.
4. Events preceding icon, following icon, and the icon itself are well balanced in an engaging story.

VIII.
References

 1. Inappropriate references. Fewer than 5 sources or fewer than 3 journal articles. Reliance on web sources.

2.. Many errors in the form of citations in either the body or the reference section.
3. Many references in the body not cited in the reference section and vice versa.

   1. Citations are appropriate, although not ideally matched to the content of the paper. Five sources and at least three journal articles.
2. A few incorrect citations are noted in either the body or the reference section.
3. A few citations in the body do not match those in the reference section.		   1. Citations are appropriate to the content of the paper in breadth, depth, and currency. Many more than the minimum number of sources.
2. Citations are correctly cited in both the body and the reference section.
3. Citations match in the body and in the reference section.