Distinguished

Proficient

Apprentice

Novice
The project suffers
from a poor writing
style and has
numerous spelling
and grammatical
errors that make it
difficult to
understand.
The origins of the
word are not given
or incorrect,
containing 0-1 of
the following:
Language of origin,
date of
introduction,
definition in
modern English,
and any
derivatives.

Mechanics and
Usage

The project is
very well-written
and has few if
any spelling or
grammatical
errors.

The project is
fairly wellwritten with
some spelling
and grammatical
errors.

The project
suffers from a
poor writing
style and has
many spelling
and grammatical
errors.

Origins

The origins of the

word as given are
correct, wellresearched, and
include at least 3
out of the 4
following:
Language of
origin, date of
introduction,
definition in
modern English,
and any
derivatives.

Evolution

The evolution of
the word is
correctly traced
from its earliest

The origins of
the word as
given are mostly
correct,
reasonably wellresearched, and
include at least
2 out of the 4
following:
Language of
origin, date of
introduction,
definition in
modern English,
and any
derivatives.
The evolution of
the word is
correctly traced
at least from its

The origins of
the word
partially
incorrect and
poorlyresearched,
containing 2 or
less of the
following:
Language of
origin, date of
introduction,
definition in
modern English,
and any
derivatives.
One or two
alternate
spellings are
given, though

No evolution of the
word is given, or is
given in a way that
is poorly

Color and Style

Collaboration

derivative,
through all
important
changes in
meaning and
spelling, to the
present.
The project is
interesting and
well-written,
giving all relevant
historical or
anecdotal details
or strange or
surprising facts
that brings the
etymology to life.
All students fully
participated in
doing research,
planning, and
writing for the
project.

modern usage
and spelling,
through some
changes in
meaning and
spelling, to the
present.
The project is
well-written, and
includes at least
one interesting,
noteworthy fact
about the words
being
researched.

little attention is
given to an
evolving
meaning.

researched or not
accurate.

The project is
well-written, but
has no
interesting facts
about the origins
of the words.

The project is
poorly-written and
boring to read,
having no
interesting facts to
note about the
words.

All students
were
cooperative with
the group in
getting work
done, but some
did significantly
more work than
others.

One or more
students only
made a token
effort to appear
active in group
work.

One or more
students refused
work.