Your Position Paper is evaluated using the rubric below.

10-8 points 7-5 points 4-1 points 0 point

Thesis The thesis is well written and Thesis was present, but was Thesis is confusing or
Statement clearly indicates the direction simplistic, confusing, or underdeveloped.
(10 pts.) of the essay. underdeveloped.
Style & No or minimal errors in Few errors in grammar, Grammar, punctuation, & Fails to use
Mechanics grammar, punctuation, & punctuation, & spelling with spelling errors occur proper
(10 pts.) spelling. minimal distraction of frequently and distract grammar,
paper’s flow & main content. from the flow and punctuation,
understanding of the and spelling in
paper’s content. paper.
Organization & No or minimal errors in Few errors in sentence & Paragraph structure lacks Fail to use
Structure sentence & paragraph paragraph structure. Structure single supporting point. proper
(10 pts.) structure. Sentence structure aids the paper’s organization. Sentences are convoluted sentence and
is strong, varied, & mature. Sentence & paragraph and wordy without paragraph
Proper use of Transitions are smooth; sent. structure aid flow of ideas & conveying succinct structure to
sentence & & para. Flow, advance arguments. Ideas are thought. Few well organize
paragraph development of thought. logically organized. structured transitions. paper.
structure
Content & No or minimal errors in topic Few lapses in topic Frequent lapses in the Fails to clearly
Development development, paper is development, majority of development of topic and state paper’s
(10 pts.) coherent & arguments are paper is coherent & supporting material. Paper purpose, no
justified, every statement comprehensible, arguments is incoherent, lack of clear
Purpose, voice, & connects the thesis, expands are valid, most statements strong accurate, believable voice/tone.
argument main point. expand main points. examples, opinions are Paper’s main
development, unsupported. point is
level of unclear &
vocabulary unfocused.
appropriate to
topic.
Support for Includes 3 or more pieces of Includes 3 or more pieces of Includes 2 pieces of Incudes 1 or
position evidence (facts, statistics, evidence (facts, statistics, evidence (facts, statistics, fewer pieces
(10 pts.) examples, real-life examples, real-life real-life experiences) that of evidence
experiences) that support the experiences) that support the support the position (facts,
position statement. The writer position statement. statement. statistics,
anticipates the reader’s examples,
concerns, biases or arguments real-life
and has provided at least 1 experiences.)
counter-argument
Counter- Clearly stated counter- Counter-arguments are Refutation is provided but No refutation
arguments and arguments which are provided and are fairly well counter-arguments are not is provided.
Refutation organized and demonstrate organized and evidence is organized and evidence is
(10 pts.) weakness/exceptions to used to support them. either not used or is weak.
arguments or evidence
Use of counter- discussed in paper. Counter-
arguments arguments are well supported
Evidence and All of the evidence and Most of the evidence and At least one of pieces of Evidence and
examples examples are specific, examples are specific, evidence and examples is examples are
(10 pts.) relevant and explanations are relevant and explanations are relevant and has an not relevant
given that show how each given that show how each explanation that shows and/or are not
piece of evidence supports the piece of evidence supports how that piece of evidence explained.
author’s position. the author’s position. supports the author’s
position.
Sequencing Arguments and support are Arguments and support are A few of the support Many of the
(10 pts.) provided in a logical order provided in a fairly logical details or arguments are support details
that makes it easy and order that makes it not in an expected or or arguments
interesting to follow the reasonably easy to follow the logical order, distracting are not in an
author’s train of thought. author’s train of thought. the reader and making the expected or
essay seem a little logical order,
confusing. distracting the
 reader and
making the
essay seem
very
confusing.
Format Entire paper follows APA Most of paper follows APA Some elements of APA Fails to follow
(10 pts.) style guidelines with proper style guidelines, cover page, style guidelines are APA style
use of cover page, parenthetical citations, and followed guidelines.
Proper use of APA parenthetical citations, and reference sections
style guidelines to aid reference page.
flow of content
-Adapted from https://www.rcampus.com/rubricshowc.cfm?code=Q8C3B9&sp=true