Research Paper Grading Rubric
Components Outstanding
Title  Is descriptive of question and
work performed
2 points  Includes dependent variable,
independent variable and
organism studied
Abstract  States clearly question being
asked
5 points  Gives hypothesis being tested
 Highlights most important
findings with enough information
to understand experiments
 States major findings and
conclusions
 Is a concise summary of question
and findings
Introduction  Provides the reader with the
necessary information to
8 points understand the present study
 Piques the readers interest and
makes the importance of the
question real
 Gives appropriate information to
previous studies that has an
impact on the current study
 Does not contain superfluous
information and/or is not wordy
 Gives a description of the
specific purpose of the study, a
description of the hypothesis
being tested and a brief summary
of the experimental strategy
being used at the end of the
introduction
 Gives a description of the study
system and why it is appropriate
to use it to answer hypothesis
Materials  Is written in paragraph form
 Describes how the experiment
and Methods was performed with sufficient
6 points detail to enable another scientist
to repeat the experiment and
obtain the same results
 Presents easy-to-follow steps
which are logical and adequately
detailed without including
standard procedures that all
scientist know how to do
 Specific chemicals and
equipment are mentioned along
with their source (not as a list)
Results  All pertinent data is described
 Raw unprocessed data is absent
8 points  Results presented as both
narrative text and in figures and
tables
 Data presented in a logical
manner to enable the reader to
Good Average Below Average
 Gives a general  Is present  Not present
description of question  Missing two of the
and work performed following: dependent
 Missing one of the variable, independent
following: dependent variable and organism
variable, independent studied
variable and organism
studied
 Is missing one  Is missing two  Is missing three or more
component of good components of a good components of a good
abstract abstract abstract
 Abstract is not well  Does not give an  Is not written in a
organized or concise. overview that leads scientific style
directly to the reader  Includes references in
being able to state the abstract
major findings of the
study
 Contains some  Is missing one or two  Is missing needed
superfluous information components of a good information to
 Does not pique the introduction understand the present
interest of the reader  Contains significant study or is
 Is missing some needed superfluous information  Is missing a description
background information  Gives a description of of the specific purpose
 Gives too much the study system of the study, a
information--more like description of the
a summary hypothesis being tested
 Has all the components and a brief summary of
of a good introduction the experimental
but some parts may be strategy being used at
difficult to understand the end of the
 Gives a description of introduction
the study system with  Contains no information
some comment on its about the study system
appropriate use
 Is written in paragraph  Is written in paragraph  Is lacking several
form form critical details so that it
 Describes how the  Describes how the is impossible to repeat
experiment was experiment was the experiments
performed with performed with some described
sufficient detail to critical details are  Many steps are missing
enable another scientist lacking in describing steps in an
to repeat the experiment  Most steps are experiment
and obtain the same understandable but  Chemicals and
results some lack detail or are equipment are in a list
 Most steps are confusing or are not described
understandable but  Most specific chemicals
some lack detail or are and equipment are
confusing mentioned along with
 Most specific chemicals their source (not as a
and equipment are list)
mentioned along with
their source (not as a
list)
 All pertinent data is  Most pertinent data is  Raw unprocessed data
described described is present
 Raw unprocessed data  Raw unprocessed data  Some results presented
is absent is absent as both narrative text
 Most results presented  Most results presented and in figures and tables
as both narrative text as both narrative text  Data not clearly
and in figures and and in figures and presented
Components Outstanding Good
draw conclusions tables
 Important data is highlighted  Most data presented in
 No conclusions are present a logical manner to
 All tables and figures have enable the reader to
appropriate legends draw conclusions
 All tables and figures are  Most important data is
described in the narrative text highlighted
 All tables and figures
have appropriate
legends
 All tables and figures
are described in the
narrative text
Average Below Average
tables  Important data not
 Most data presented in highlighted
a logical manner to  Data in tables or figures
enable the reader to not described in
draw conclusions narrative form
 Most important data is
highlighted
 Most of the tables and
figures have appropriate
legends
 Most tables and figures
are described in the
narrative text

Discussion/  Question and hypothesis restated
 Conclusions are stated clearly
Conclusions with explicit reference to the data
8 points that support a conclusion
 Argument for conclusions well
organized
 Importance of conclusions
discussed
 Conclusions related to other
studies and put into a context of
current knowledge
 Clear differentiation between
speculations and conclusions
 Final paragraph states the major
finding of the study (the take
home message)
 Conclusions are stated  Conclusions are stated  Conclusions are stated
clearly with explicit clearly with reference to but without sufficient
reference to the data the data that support a reference to the results
that support a conclusion that support it.
conclusion  Argument for the  Lacking several of the
 Argument for conclusions can be characters of a good
conclusions is understood but difficult discussion
generally well to follow
organized  Final paragraph states
 Importance of the major finding of the
conclusions discussed study (the take home
 Conclusions related to message)
other studies and put
into a context of current
knowledge
 Final paragraph states
the major finding of the
study (the take home
message)

References  All cited sources present  All cited sources  Most cited sources  Many sources absent
 No references not cited in the present present  Inappropriate format
5 points body present  In required format  Generally in required  References not most
 In the required format  References relevant and format relevant/appropriate to
 References all highly relevant appropriate  References relevant and study
appropriate
Grammar  Paragraphs well organized  Most paragraphs well  Many paragraphs well  Paper lacks well
 Sections with logical organized organized organized paragraphs
and organization of paragraphs  Sections with logical  Several grammatical  Sections do not contain
mechanics (especially introduction, results organization of errors, typos, and information presented
and conclusions) paragraphs (especially misspelling may be in a logical order
4 points  Few grammatical errors, typos introduction, results and present  Many grammatical
and misspellings conclusions) errors
 Appropriate word selection  Several grammatical  Many misappropriate
 Correct use of scientific terms errors, typos, and word useage errors
misspelling may be (e.g., effect vs. affect)
present  Many misuses of
 Some misappropriate scientific terms
word useage errors
(effect vs. affect)
 Some misuse of
scientific terms
Format  All components in the  Most components of the  An attempt made to  No evidence of required
appropriate format required format follow required format format or
4 points  Author name displayed followed  Author name displayed  Author name missing
 Latin scientific name italicized  Author name displayed  Paper stapled  Latin scientific name
with genus capitalized and  Paper stapled not italicized
species in lower case  Paper not stapled
 Paper stapled

Overall 45-50 points 40-44 points 35-39 points 0-34 points

Evaluation