US12A - Paper #1 Grading Rubric

US12A (Fall 2007) Paper #1 Grading Rubric - Computer Games and Culture

Grade / Score Research Question & Thesis Development of Thesis Research and Support Structure Language & Proofreading

A (4)

essay controlled by clear, precise, well-defined thesis: is sophisticated in both statement and insight; explicitly targets a strong and proximate connection between some aspect of contemporary culture and a particular computer game
has cogent analysis, shows command of interpretive and conceptual tasks required by assignment and course materials: ideas original and insightful, building on discussion and lecture; persuasive reasoning develops and support thesis; uses several authoritative and credible primary and secondary sources; well-chosen examples and quotations from sources supports development of thesis strong introduction and conclusion paragraphs; arrangement of paragraphs seems particularly apt; appropriate, clear and smooth transitions; excellent use of topic sentences
uses sophisticated sentences effectively; usually chooses words aptly; observes conventions of written English; APA citation format; few minor or technical errors

B (3)
clear, specific, argumentative thesis central to the essay; posits connections between contemporary culture and a computer game pursues thesis consistently; shows a good understanding of the texts, ideas and methods of the assignment; may have left minor terms undefined; goes beyond the obvious; may have one minor factual or conceptual inconsistency a few strong sources and a few non-authoritative or poorly used sources; develops a main argument with clear major points and appropriate textual evidence and supporting detail; introduction and conclusion paragraphs exist; makes an effort to organize paragraphs topically; distinct units of thought in paragraphs controlled by good topic sentences; clear transitions between developed, cohering, and logically arranged paragraphs that are internally cohesive some mechanical difficulties or stylistic problems; may make occasional problematic or sloppy word choices or awkward syntax errors; a few spelling or punctuation errors or clichés; mostly presents quotations and sources effectively in APA format;

C (2)
general thesis or controlling idea exists; connection between contemporary culture and some aspect of the history of computer games too general or vague and needs significant improvement shows an understanding of the basic ideas and information involved in the assignment; may not define several central terms; may have some factual, interpretive, or conceptual errors; only partially develops the argument; shallow analysis; some ideas and generalizations undeveloped or unsupported; only somewhat pertinent and authoritative sources; makes limited use of textual evidence; fails to integrate quotations appropriately introduction and conclusion paragraphs weak; some awkward transitions; some brief, weakly unified or undeveloped paragraphs; arrangement may not appear entirely natural; contains extraneous information more frequent wordiness; several unclear or awkward sentences; imprecise use of words or over-reliance on passive voice; one or two major grammatical errors (subject-verb agreement, comma splice, etc.); effort to present quotations accurately; citations & sources not used in a consistent format

D (1)
thesis vague or not central to argument; offers weak connections between contemporary culture and a specific computer game significant factual and conceptual errors; central terms not defined; confuses some significant ideas; frequently only narrates; digresses from one topic to another without developing ideas or terms few sources, all weak, possibly questionable; makes insufficient or awkward use of research no introduction or conclusion paragraphs; wanders from one topic to another; illogical arrangement of ideas; paragraphs not coherent multiple significant grammatical or proofreading errors (subject-verb agreement; sentence fragments); language marred by clichés, colloquialisms, repeated inexact word choices; inappropriate quotation or citation format

F (0)
no discernible thesis; does not attempt to draw a connection between contemporary culture and computer games flow of argument is hard to follow; no new ideas; primarily narration or summary or personal opinion no acceptible sources; uses no quotations or fails to cite sources no introduction or conclusion; no transitions; incoherent paragraphs; suggests poor planning or no serious revision numerous grammatical errors and stylistic problems seriously distract from the argument

Grade for category

(Grade for paper and written feedback on reverse)

Grade / Score	Research Question & Thesis	Development of Thesis	Research and Support	Structure	Language & Proofreading
A (4)	essay controlled by clear, precise, well-defined thesis: is sophisticated in both statement and insight; explicitly targets a strong and proximate connection between some aspect of contemporary culture and a particular computer game	has cogent analysis, shows command of interpretive and conceptual tasks required by assignment and course materials: ideas original and insightful, building on discussion and lecture; persuasive reasoning develops and support thesis;	uses several authoritative and credible primary and secondary sources; well-chosen examples and quotations from sources supports development of thesis	strong introduction and conclusion paragraphs; arrangement of paragraphs seems particularly apt; appropriate, clear and smooth transitions; excellent use of topic sentences	uses sophisticated sentences effectively; usually chooses words aptly; observes conventions of written English; APA citation format; few minor or technical errors
B (3)	clear, specific, argumentative thesis central to the essay; posits connections between contemporary culture and a computer game	pursues thesis consistently; shows a good understanding of the texts, ideas and methods of the assignment; may have left minor terms undefined; goes beyond the obvious; may have one minor factual or conceptual inconsistency	a few strong sources and a few non-authoritative or poorly used sources; develops a main argument with clear major points and appropriate textual evidence and supporting detail;	introduction and conclusion paragraphs exist; makes an effort to organize paragraphs topically; distinct units of thought in paragraphs controlled by good topic sentences; clear transitions between developed, cohering, and logically arranged paragraphs that are internally cohesive	some mechanical difficulties or stylistic problems; may make occasional problematic or sloppy word choices or awkward syntax errors; a few spelling or punctuation errors or clichés; mostly presents quotations and sources effectively in APA format;
C (2)	general thesis or controlling idea exists; connection between contemporary culture and some aspect of the history of computer games too general or vague and needs significant improvement	shows an understanding of the basic ideas and information involved in the assignment; may not define several central terms; may have some factual, interpretive, or conceptual errors; only partially develops the argument; shallow analysis; some ideas and generalizations undeveloped or unsupported;	only somewhat pertinent and authoritative sources; makes limited use of textual evidence; fails to integrate quotations appropriately	introduction and conclusion paragraphs weak; some awkward transitions; some brief, weakly unified or undeveloped paragraphs; arrangement may not appear entirely natural; contains extraneous information	more frequent wordiness; several unclear or awkward sentences; imprecise use of words or over-reliance on passive voice; one or two major grammatical errors (subject-verb agreement, comma splice, etc.); effort to present quotations accurately; citations & sources not used in a consistent format
D (1)	thesis vague or not central to argument; offers weak connections between contemporary culture and a specific computer game	significant factual and conceptual errors; central terms not defined; confuses some significant ideas; frequently only narrates; digresses from one topic to another without developing ideas or terms	few sources, all weak, possibly questionable; makes insufficient or awkward use of research	no introduction or conclusion paragraphs; wanders from one topic to another; illogical arrangement of ideas; paragraphs not coherent	multiple significant grammatical or proofreading errors (subject-verb agreement; sentence fragments); language marred by clichés, colloquialisms, repeated inexact word choices; inappropriate quotation or citation format
F (0)	no discernible thesis; does not attempt to draw a connection between contemporary culture and computer games	flow of argument is hard to follow; no new ideas; primarily narration or summary or personal opinion	no acceptible sources; uses no quotations or fails to cite sources	no introduction or conclusion; no transitions; incoherent paragraphs; suggests poor planning or no serious revision	numerous grammatical errors and stylistic problems seriously distract from the argument
Grade for category