WRITING PAPERS FOR HISTORY / SOCIAL SCIENCES
Mrs. McCormick's Essay Grading Rubric
- Heading 1-10 points
upper right hand corner, single spaced
name
date
class (Govt)
assignment (Comparative Essay)
Center the title of your essay over the first paragraph.
Ex: A Comparison of Healthcare Ideas Between Four Political Parties
- Essay structure 1-50 points
(minimum 5 paragraphs - see samples below rubric)
- Citation 1-10 points
1. Use of quotes or outside sources
2. Use of footnote numbering
3. Bibliography / works cited
(Title, author, publisher, date, page)
Example book:
1. Ken Burns, The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945 (New York: Knopf, 2007), 52.
Examples online sources (name of article or posting and URL):
1. The Civil War: The Gettysburg Address. http://youtu.be/qCXUbQ4JjXI
2. U.S. Civil War Time Line. http://www.us-civilwar.com/
- Punctuation, spelling, grammar 1-10
1. Have a friend, family member or another instructor proof your work.
2. Read it out loud, slowly saying each word - does what you are reading make sense?
3. Use the grammar and spell check on your computer.
- Makes Sense 1-10 points
Does your essay flow relevantly from one point to the next or are your points all mixed up and random?
- Thought Development 1-10 points
Have you thought through, or processed the information you have researched and made your own thoughts and opinions, or are you just quoting or rehashing what someone else said? I want to know YOUR thoughts and opinions - the best opinions win!
EXAMPLE OF ESSAY STRUCTURE
Introduction with thesis statement
The introduction should say something that makes the reader WANT to read what you have to say. Be creative! Use the last sentence in your introduction to outline what you are going to talk about.
Introduction Example - thesis statement in purple:
Using the word "healthcare" in America today, is almost like saying a four letter curse word. With so many opinions, wants and needs of the population, it can be difficult to know what "the people" really want. While many interest groups push their ideas of reform on the American Congress, four large political parties have taken a firm stand on this issue. The purpose of this paper is to take a comparative look at the Republican, Democrat, Independent and Libertarian parties and their platforms regarding healthcare in America.
Body (supports thesis)
Based upon the above introduction example, this body would have at least 4 paragraphs, each outlining the stand of the respective parties listed. Sometimes more than one paragraph is needed to explain a point. That is OK. It is also in this section where you would use quotes from the sources to demonstrate points you are trying to make - making sure to add your footnote numbering at the end of each quote to match up with your bibliography.
Conclusion
Very often in comparative essays, you will have an opinion to express. You may do this in a paragraph prior to your conclusion or more simply, within the text of your conclusion.
Example:
Healthcare, as we can see from the various perspectives of the four larger political parties in America, is not a topic easily discussed in polite society. Through close examination of the different platforms, it is this author's opinion that the Independent party offers the best solution. America was, after all, built by people who were independent and wanted to rely upon themselves. The other three parties, Republican, Democrat and Libertarian, while offering some valid points, lack the virtue of self-responsibility, reliability and trust in God the Father.
(NOTE - THIS PARAGRAPH IS FOR EXAMPLE PURPOSES ONLY.)
- Heading 1-10 points
upper right hand corner, single spaced
name
date
class (Govt)
assignment (Comparative Essay)
Center the title of your essay over the first paragraph.
Ex: A Comparison of Healthcare Ideas Between Four Political Parties
- Essay structure 1-50 points
(minimum 5 paragraphs - see samples below rubric)
- Citation 1-10 points
1. Use of quotes or outside sources
2. Use of footnote numbering
3. Bibliography / works cited
(Title, author, publisher, date, page)
Example book:
1. Ken Burns, The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945 (New York: Knopf, 2007), 52.
Examples online sources (name of article or posting and URL):
1. The Civil War: The Gettysburg Address. http://youtu.be/qCXUbQ4JjXI
2. U.S. Civil War Time Line. http://www.us-civilwar.com/
- Punctuation, spelling, grammar 1-10
1. Have a friend, family member or another instructor proof your work.
2. Read it out loud, slowly saying each word - does what you are reading make sense?
3. Use the grammar and spell check on your computer.
- Makes Sense 1-10 points
Does your essay flow relevantly from one point to the next or are your points all mixed up and random?
- Thought Development 1-10 points
Have you thought through, or processed the information you have researched and made your own thoughts and opinions, or are you just quoting or rehashing what someone else said? I want to know YOUR thoughts and opinions - the best opinions win!
EXAMPLE OF ESSAY STRUCTURE
Introduction with thesis statement
The introduction should say something that makes the reader WANT to read what you have to say. Be creative! Use the last sentence in your introduction to outline what you are going to talk about.
Introduction Example - thesis statement in purple:
Using the word "healthcare" in America today, is almost like saying a four letter curse word. With so many opinions, wants and needs of the population, it can be difficult to know what "the people" really want. While many interest groups push their ideas of reform on the American Congress, four large political parties have taken a firm stand on this issue. The purpose of this paper is to take a comparative look at the Republican, Democrat, Independent and Libertarian parties and their platforms regarding healthcare in America.
Body (supports thesis)
Based upon the above introduction example, this body would have at least 4 paragraphs, each outlining the stand of the respective parties listed. Sometimes more than one paragraph is needed to explain a point. That is OK. It is also in this section where you would use quotes from the sources to demonstrate points you are trying to make - making sure to add your footnote numbering at the end of each quote to match up with your bibliography.
Conclusion
Very often in comparative essays, you will have an opinion to express. You may do this in a paragraph prior to your conclusion or more simply, within the text of your conclusion.
Example:
Healthcare, as we can see from the various perspectives of the four larger political parties in America, is not a topic easily discussed in polite society. Through close examination of the different platforms, it is this author's opinion that the Independent party offers the best solution. America was, after all, built by people who were independent and wanted to rely upon themselves. The other three parties, Republican, Democrat and Libertarian, while offering some valid points, lack the virtue of self-responsibility, reliability and trust in God the Father.
(NOTE - THIS PARAGRAPH IS FOR EXAMPLE PURPOSES ONLY.)