Scoring Guide for Traditional Research Project Portfolio

Name: ______________________ Date Submitted: __________ Total Points: 95

COVER LETTER (15) 1ST AND 2ND DRAFTS (10)

ESSAY (70):

THESIS AND REASONING (25)

10 pts. Thesis clearly states the writer’s claim regarding the two poems and the theme chosen in order to
make a point about how the poems contribute to the theme or to evaluate one poem as better
accomplishing its purpose. [there is some flexibility on the types of theses the writers may develop]
_____

5 pts. Evidence in body of essay clearly supports the thesis. _____

10 pts. Writer clearly utilizes the two source articles to develop the argument throughout the essay.
_____

FORMAT, REFERENCE, AND DOCUMENTATION (20)

5 pts. Identification heading, margins, spacing, pagination, and title are in correct MLA
style. _____

5 pts. Works cited page is in correct MLA style. _____

5 pts. Uses appropriate quotations and summaries to support main point. _____

5 pts. Documents all references to the source in MLA parenthetical style. _____

ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT (15)

5 pts. Introduction interests the reader, introduces the source, establishes the
topic and purpose. Conclusion restates thesis idea in a new way, uses an interesting example,
and gives a sense of closure. _____

10 pts. Body paragraphs are unified by a topic sentence, developed using adequate details, and use effective
transitions for coherence. Paragraphs use source material to supplement the writer’s ideas. _____

EXPRESSION (10)

5 pts. Writing is generally free of major grammar errors. Spelling and punctuation, including the use of
quotation marks, is correct _____

5 pts. Sentence variety shows competence in the use of subordination, emphasis,

sentence variety and length, and modifiers. Word choice maintains a consistent
formal style. _____