Week 4 Assignment: Formal Research Paper

Mastery Proficiency Competency Needs Improvement Unacceptable

Develops an
appropriate and
organized research
topic through all
stages of the
writing process

Effectively applies the
principles of the
writing process to
compose a well-
balanced essay.
Uses appropriate,
relevant, and
compelling content
to illustrate mastery
of the subject,
conveying the writer’s
understanding, and
shaping the whole
work.

Effectively applies the
principles of the
writing process to
compose a balanced
essay. Uses
appropriate, relevant
content to explore
ideas within the
context of the
discipline and shape
the work.

Applies the principles
of the writing process
to compose a
balanced essay.
Uses appropriate and
relevant content to
develop and explore
ideas through most of
the work.

Demonstrates some
understanding of
writing process.
Content is uneven in
presentation.
Development is
weak.

Does not not meet
requirements or there
was no submission.

Synthesizes source
material critically,
strategically, and
proportionately.

Demonstrates skillful
use of credible,
academic, relevant
sources to develop
ideas that are
appropriate for the
topic and strengthen
the argument.

Demonstrates
consistent use of
credible, relevant
academic sources to
support ideas that are
relevant to the topic
and support the
argument.

Demonstrates an
attempt to use
credible and/or
relevant sources to
support the argument
and are appropriate
for the topic.

Demonstrates an
attempt to use
sources to support
ideas in the writing.
Sources may lack
relevancy or use may
be disproportional.

Does not not meet
requirements or there
was no submission.

Applies current
research to create
context and focus to
argument in an
extended essay.

Demonstrates a
thorough
understanding of
context, audience,
and purpose that
focuses all elements
of the work on the
main goal.

Demonstrates
adequate
consideration of
context, audience,
and purpose with a
clear focus on the
main goal.

Demonstrates
awareness of
context, audience,
purpose with
adequate focus on
the main goal.

Demonstrates
minimal attention to
context, audience,
purpose. Main goal is
present but lacks
focus.

Does not not meet
requirements or there
was no submission.

Illustrates a
comprehensive
understanding of
APA format

Demonstrates
mastery of APA
format standards with
no errors.

Demonstrates skillful
application of APA
format standards with
few errors.

Demonstrates
understanding of
APA format
standards with minor
errors (less than five)

Shows some
understanding of
APA format
standards. Errors are
frequent (more than
five)

Does not not meet
requirements or there
was no submission.

Grammar and
mechanics

Uses graceful
language that
skillfully

Uses appropriate
language that
generally conveys

Uses language that
generally conveys
meaning to readers

Uses language that
sometimes impedes

Does not not meet
requirements or there
was no submission.

communicates
meaning to readers
with clarity and
fluency, and is
virtually error-free.

meaning to readers
with few errors.

with clarity, although
writing may include
errors.

meaning because of
errors in usage.

Style and Tone Writing uses
academic language,
objective tone, and is
consistent throughout
the essay.

Writing uses
academic language,
objective tone with
minor
inconsistencies.

Writing attempts use
of academic
language, and
objective tone.
Casual language is
evident.
Inconsistencies mark
the essay.

Communicates with
clarity but lacks
formal or academic
language. Objective
voice is not
consistent

Does not not meet
requirements or there
was no submission.

Reductions for word count is equal to the percentage of omission. A 10% penalty would be applied to a a submission that is 200 words below the

2000-word requirement.