Excellent

Fair

Weak

Bio-graphical information of author

Use of several authoritative sources; author’s development; other work; reputable critiques of work; controversies involving author

A few outside sources used; author’s development without interpretation; notable other works omitted; Amazon.com-type reviews

Use of book jacket; scant information on author’s development and contributing influences; no mention of other works, critiques

Historical context

schools of thought that might have influenced author

Cursory listing of historical events with no connection to the text or analysis

Chronology of events, dates

Literary style

Writing techniques author uses; examples of popular writing styles of similar works on same topic; comparison of style with that of other authors

Some mention of author’s writing style but only vague reference to techniques; some mention of books, authors on same topic and comparison with their styles

Vague generalizations about literary style without examples from text or similar works

Content

Provides some detailed background on a significant subject, event, place or group of people that author discusses in text

Some background on a significant subject, event, place or group of people that author discusses in text, but presentation marked by broad, sweeping and/or vague generalizations

Little or no background on a significant subject, event, place or group of people that author discusses in text

Relevancy

Several sources showing how text was received or sources that connect text with current scholarly works or popular discussions

Explanation of relevancy marked by broad, sweeping and/or vague generalizations

Simply offering group opinion on relevancy

Short-comings or compli-cations

Calling attention to any areas where the author was short-sighted, prejudiced, or uninformed; providing information to contest author’s view of a particular issue

Short-comings of text and/or author pointed out, but no suggestions or contesting of author’s view given

Little or no discussion

Context Setter Delivery

Well prepared both in terms of information gathered and poise and effectiveness in public speaking; concise and complete in 10-15 minutes; some visual information to aid understanding

Somewhat prepared, but gaps in information and a fair amount of "ums," "you knows," and "it’s like"

No obvious preparation in content or delivery