GRADING RUBRIC
Term Paper: Why Evolution is True
Introduction and Body of the Paper 60 %
(60 Points)
Possible Points
Points Earned
I
Is there a well-developed introduction that orients the reader to the purpose of
the paper?
II.
BODY OF PAPER
Does the paper explain both the process of evolution by natural selection and the
evidence for evolution from paleontology, genetics, molecular biology,
comparative embryology, comparative anatomy, physiology, biogeography, and
geology?
30
Does the paper evaluate the theory of evolution using the scientific method?
10
Does the paper interpret
evidence for evolution for intended and unintended meaning?
10
Does the paper assess
different points of view, assumptions, and/or arguments regarding evolution?
10
Conclusion 20% (20 points)
III.
CONCLUSION
Is there a well thought out conclusion that reviews the major points and purpose
of the paper including your personal thoughts on the theory of
evolution?
Are the important points in the
Body of the Paper used to support your conclusion statements?
20
Readability, Style, and Mechanics 20%
(20 Points)
READABILITY:
Are rules
of grammar, spelling and punctuation followed?
Are sentences
and paragraphs well-constructed, complete, clear and concise?
10
FORMATTING:
Does the paper have a minimum of 8 pages of text (10 pages
total)?
Does the paper have APA style format?
Does the paper include a stand-alone title page and reference page?
Is the paper doubled spaced, one and one half inch top margin, one inch side and bottom
margins, black type, 12 point Times New Roman or Arial font, headings and
subheadings?
10
Late
penalty (10 Points Per Day Up to Four days.
Zero Points after)
TOTAL POINTS
100
General Comments:
INTRODUCTION
An introduction
has three important components: Purpose of the paper, Background information on
the topic, and the Thesis statement.
1. The reader needs to know why they are reading
your paperbut more importantly do you know why you are writing your
paper. What is the purpose?
2. You cant discuss the topic if you dont know
what the general concept of Evolution actually is. State the Theory of Evolution clearly. Dont assume the reader knows. This is your chance to orient the reader and
provide some important background information?
3. This last
sentence in the introduction (thesis statement) is probably the most important
part of an introduction as it notifies the reader what your paper will be
addressing. You cannot omit it! What are
the main topics you will be discussing?
Stay tightly
focused when you write, and follow your outline closely. If your introduction is not clear and
concise, your paper will not be as good as it can be.
BODY OF THE PAPER
Issues Concerning
Evolution: These are the major issues
you need to write about in your paper.
You should have a bold header for each of these issues in the body of
your paper. Then you need to write about
these issues. This is where most of the
work is for this paper.
1. Does the paper
explain the theory of evolution in sufficient detail, including evaluation
using the scientific method?
2. Does the paper
include a description of the important lines of evidence supporting the theory
of evolution? 1. Fossils 2. Biogeography 3. Natural Selection 4. Comparative Embryology 5. Comparative Anatomy 6. Molecular Biology
3. Does the paper
explain the concept of Natural Selection as the means for which evolution
occurs?
4. Does the paper
include the importance of the theory of evolution to science?
5. Does the paper
assess different points of view with regards to evolution and interpret
evidence for evolution for both intended and unintended meaning? Basically,
this is asking you to dig deep into the everything that you have learned this
semester and to discuss the strength of each side of the evidence and determine
if there is any bias.
The topic
sentence (your first sentence) for each section needs to announce the topic of
the paragraph. Many students want to
begin their paragraph with the details:
However, you must start off each section with a general statement about
the topic you are writing about in order to setup the flow and organization of
the issue.
Preparing a well-developed
outline before you begin writing will help to ensure that you include all the
details and avoid muddling the facts.
You need to spend
adequate time analyzing all the data supporting the theory of evolution and
extract relevant facts and then discuss the issue completely. Students often get bogged down in the
enormity of the task. Remember, every
paper is written one sentence at a time.
CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions are a
great mystery to many students. It is
the last thing the reader remembers about you and your writing. As with all paragraphs, the conclusion needs
a general topic sentence before proceeding to the details. Convey to the reader
that this is the conclusion that will sum up your findings on the issues you
discussed in the body of the report.
What is the
conclusion? What did we learn or what should the reader have taken away from
your paper? Dont prattle on about
generalities and dont make up new information.
This is your last chance to impress the reader of the importance of your
thoughts and ideas about the specific issues you discussed in the body of the
report.
TIPS FOR
MECHANICS AND READABILITY
1 Each paragraph should begin with general
information and progress to specific details.
Students like to begin their paragraphs with the specific detail. This does not make for good reading. Reverse this trend and you should see great
improvement in readability.
2. Use of headers
and sub-headers will always make your paper much more reader friendly.
3. Dont assume the reader knows what you want
to say. Take the time to methodically
spell it out for them. Writing requires
careful choice of words and sentence structure.
4. Develop your ideas fully and provide adequate
discussion. This will help you give a
more effective presentation. Avoid
presenting ideas randomly.
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