Research Paper Rubric

Research Paper RubricA common core research paper rubric is a guide to evaluate papers and the work of any student participating in college research. A common core research paper rubric is, however, extremely subjective. Like the rubric used by professors and school officials, it will differ from one institution to another.In an attempt to provide standardized guidelines, they are not perfect. One academic writing professor I talked to said that in their experience, there are certain characteristics that they look for that can often separate a student's writing from that of the average. He characterized their criteria as 'little details.' Among the characteristics he gave as examples of 'little details' he listed grammatical, syntactic, rhetorical, or structural details.One of the best pieces of advice I have received about conducting a research paper rubric is to go into it with a prepared agenda. After carefully reading over each paper's individual requirements, students will have a general idea of what to expect from their own work. Before writing a rubric, make sure that each assignment has been divided into sections so it is clear how the students will be graded on those sections.Often times, students are given their own research statement. The rubric should include this as well. Without a research statement, students may struggle to organize and follow through on the standards they have set. Not only should each student be assessed on their own research paper, but the writing should flow as a whole. In other words, the research statement should match the assignment as a whole.One of the most important parts of the rubric is how the paper flows. The papers should flow from topic to topic and make a logical progression. Also, it is important to make sure that the standards are not too stringent. Too much pressure on students can stifle their creativity. Another factor that could hold back the flow of the project is if the rubric dictates the completion of t he work as quickly as possible.There are a few types of format or structure that a rubric should have. Although the process varies from school to school, common core research paper rubrics should contain three phases. The first phase is the inclusion of all of the standards and expectations associated with the specific research topic. This phase should also include a review of the resources that the author may use in their research.The second phase is the evaluation of the work and how it matches up to the standard. The third phase is where a summary of the entire assignment is presented to the author. These two phases are usually related, as long as the standards are followed.A research paper rubric should include all of the usual components such as research methodology, addressing of limitations, writing standards, and evaluation. However, it is not necessary to use a rubric. While doing so can be helpful, a rubric will help to ensure that each student is producing quality written work while allowing for creative expression.