English 11 Name: ______________________
Mr. O’Brien
Research Paper Rubric
Length: Is the finished paper six full pages? _____/15
Title: Has the writer included an informative and engaging title? _____/5
Introduction: Is the hook engaging and appropriate? Has the writer
provided an overview of the topic and explained why it matters? _____/10
Thesis: Has the writer included a one sentence thesis statement
that lays out the overall position of the paper? _____/5
Body Paragraphs: Does the writer lead with a strong topic sentence
and end with a concluding sentence? Is the main idea supported with
quotes and paraphrases from the writer’s research that are explained
by the writer and advance the overall position of the paper? Does the
writer use transitions effectively? _____/15
Conclusion: Does the conclusion summarize the main points of the
paper? Does the writer end with a strong closer? _____/10
Works Cited: Does the paper include a properly formatted Works
Cited page with at least eight credible sources? _____/15
In Text Citations: Does the writer use proper in-text citations for
all quotes and paraphrases? Does the author cite each source at
least once? _____/10
Proofreading: Are there spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors? _____/10
MLA Format: Does the writer follow MLA formatting guidelines? _____/5
TOTAL: _____/100
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