Research Process Rubric - Middle School

Rubric Research Process Rubric - Middle School

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This rubric may be used for self-assessment and peer feedback. PDF version for printing

CATEGORY

Exemplary

Proficient

Partially Proficient

Incomplete

POINTS

Research Questions

3 points

2 points

1 point

0 points

Wrote thoughtful, creative, well-worded specific questions that were relevant to the assigned topic.
Wrote well-worded, specific questions that were relevant to the assigned topic. Wrote questions which lacked focus, were poorly stated, and were not entirely relevant to the assigned topic. Wrote questions which lacked a specific focus, were poorly stated, and not relevant to the assigned topic.

Selection of Sources

3 points

2 points

1 point

0 points

Identified highly appropriate sources in a variety of formats (books, journals, electronic sources).

Identified mostly appropriate sources in a variety of formats (books, journals, electronic sources).

Identified a few appropriate sources but made little attempt to balance format types.

Identified no appropriate sources in any format.

Note-taking & Keywords

3 points

2 points

1 point

0 points

Extracted relevant information. Extracted mostly relevant information. Extracted a lot of information which wasn’t relevant. Extracted irrelevant information.

Brainstormed keywords, categories, related terms that were effective in researching the questions. Selected mostly effective keywords to use in researching the questions. Selected some keywords that were not effective in researching the questions. Selected no effective keywords to use in researching the questions.

Wrote notes including succinct key facts which directly answered all of the research questions and were written in the student's own words. Wrote notes which included facts that answered most of the research questions and were written in the student’s own words. Wrote notes which included irrelevant facts which did not answer the research questions. Some notes were copied directly from the original source. Wrote notes which included a majority of facts which did not answer the research questions. Most or all notes were copied word-for-word from the original source.

Organization and Synthesis
3 points

2 points

1 point

0 points

Presented content clearly and concisely with a logical progression of ideas and effective supporting evidence. Presented most of the content with a logical progression of ideas and supporting evidence. Presented content which failed to maintain a consistent focus, showed minimal organization and effort, and lacked an adequate amount of supporting evidence. Presented content which was unfocused, poorly organized, showed little thought or effort and lacked supporting evidence.

Selected an appropriate and effective format to creatively communicate research findings. Selected an appropriate format to structure and communicate research findings. Needed to select a more effective format to structure and communicate research findings. Failed to select an appropriate format to communicate research findings.

Citations/ Documentation

3 points

2 points

1 point

0 points

Cited all sources of information accurately to demonstrate the credibility and authority of the information presented. Cited most sources of information in proper format and documented sources to enable accuracy checking. Cited most sources of information improperly and provided little or no supporting documentation to check accuracy. Created citations which were incomplete or inaccurate, and provided no way to check the validity of the information gathered.

Used information ethically all of the time. Used information ethically most of the time. Failed to use information ethically some of the time. Failed to use information ethically.

TOTAL POINTS
/15

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CATEGORY	Exemplary	Proficient	Partially Proficient	Incomplete	POINTS
Research Questions	3 points	2 points	1 point	0 points
	Wrote thoughtful, creative, well-worded specific questions that were relevant to the assigned topic.	Wrote well-worded, specific questions that were relevant to the assigned topic.	Wrote questions which lacked focus, were poorly stated, and were not entirely relevant to the assigned topic.	Wrote questions which lacked a specific focus, were poorly stated, and not relevant to the assigned topic.


Selection of Sources	3 points	2 points	1 point	0 points
	Identified highly appropriate sources in a variety of formats (books, journals, electronic sources).	Identified mostly appropriate sources in a variety of formats (books, journals, electronic sources).	Identified a few appropriate sources but made little attempt to balance format types.	Identified no appropriate sources in any format.





Note-taking & Keywords	3 points	2 points	1 point	0 points
	Extracted relevant information.	Extracted mostly relevant information.	Extracted a lot of information which wasn’t relevant.	Extracted irrelevant information.
	Brainstormed keywords, categories, related terms that were effective in researching the questions.	Selected mostly effective keywords to use in researching the questions.	Selected some keywords that were not effective in researching the questions.	Selected no effective keywords to use in researching the questions.
	Wrote notes including succinct key facts which directly answered all of the research questions and were written in the student's own words.	Wrote notes which included facts that answered most of the research questions and were written in the student’s own words.	Wrote notes which included irrelevant facts which did not answer the research questions. Some notes were copied directly from the original source.	Wrote notes which included a majority of facts which did not answer the research questions. Most or all notes were copied word-for-word from the original source.


Organization and Synthesis	3 points	2 points	1 point	0 points
	Presented content clearly and concisely with a logical progression of ideas and effective supporting evidence.	Presented most of the content with a logical progression of ideas and supporting evidence.	Presented content which failed to maintain a consistent focus, showed minimal organization and effort, and lacked an adequate amount of supporting evidence.	Presented content which was unfocused, poorly organized, showed little thought or effort and lacked supporting evidence.
	Selected an appropriate and effective format to creatively communicate research findings.	Selected an appropriate format to structure and communicate research findings.	Needed to select a more effective format to structure and communicate research findings.	Failed to select an appropriate format to communicate research findings.

Citations/ Documentation	3 points	2 points	1 point	0 points
	Cited all sources of information accurately to demonstrate the credibility and authority of the information presented.	Cited most sources of information in proper format and documented sources to enable accuracy checking.	Cited most sources of information improperly and provided little or no supporting documentation to check accuracy.	Created citations which were incomplete or inaccurate, and provided no way to check the validity of the information gathered.
	Used information ethically all of the time.	Used information ethically most of the time.	Failed to use information ethically some of the time.	Failed to use information ethically.

TOTAL POINTS					/15