Ethics in Science
Reading Response Essay Rubric
Each Reading Response Essay will be graded on the basis of 20 possible points, 10 for content (i.e., accurately presenting the answer to the question according to the author(s) you're writing about) and 10 for "execution" (i.e., how well written the essay is).
Content:
Complete answer to the question, very accurate representation of the author's view = 10
Answer to the question could be more complete or better explained, a few minor inaccuracies in representing the author's view = 8
Partial answer to the question with more correct than incorrect claims about the author's view = 6
Partial answer to the question with more incorrect than correct claims about the author's view = 4
Some information about what the author thinks, but nothing like an answer to the question = 2.
Very inaccurate representation of what the author thinks about the question = 0
Execution:
Clear, concise; good grammar, punctuation, spelling = 10
Pretty clear and concise; fewer than 4 grammar, punctuations, or spelling errors = 8
Mostly clear; fewer than 7 grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors = 6
Somewhat unclear; many errors of grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling = 4
Very unclear; lots of systemic problems with grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling = 2
So many problems as to be incomprehensible = 0
**This is the continuum. I may assign "between" marks (like 9 or 7) if appropriate.
**In my comments back to you, I'll flag the two separate contributions to the overall mark (e.g., Content 7, Execution 10).
**If you exercise the "I-have-no-idea-what-this-author-is-saying" option, you can still get full marks for Execution and up to 8 points on Content (unless, in the essay working out what the author might be saying you hit upon the right answer -- in which case you could earn 10 points for Content!).
| course home | course information | handouts | assignments | instructor information | research links | research ethics resources |
