SEMINAR PAPER RUBRIC
	NOT ACCEPTABLE	EMERGING	DEVELOPING	PROFICIENT
INTRODUCTION	· Author’s Thesis not stated. · No summary of points to be explored in body of paper	· Author’s thesis stated  · No summary of the argument to be explored in the body of the paper · Or, author’s thesis is unclear	· Author’s thesis clear · Summary of argument is included (i.e., overview of points to be discussed in body of paper)	· Introduction engages the reader and signals the intent of the paper  · Language is fluent and interesting  · Clear, relevant thesis stated · Summary of argument is included
BODY OF PAPER	· Unconnected to introduction · Unsupported opinions used to develop argument · No use of text references to support claims	· Ideas connected to introduction/ but organization is unclear · Claims based on texts but ideas not explored Or, claims made but do not support an overall argument ·Some use of text references to support claims Each text treated separately	· Each paragraph clearly connected to introduction or to preceding paragraph(s) · Claims based on text and the ideas are explored and developed · Claims build an argument · Good use of text references	· Parallel construction (paragraph order equals summary in introduction)  · Appropriate use of text references to support claims  · Thorough exploration of claims and possible counter-arguments to build argument  · Language use engaging and fluent
CONCLUSION	·No concluding paragraph  ·Or the paragraph introduces new information ·Does not contain your point of view	· Concluding paragraph reviews some of major points · No conclusion offered related to author’s thesis  · Contains an opinion but is not related to author’s thesis	· Concluding paragraph reviews all major points · No conclusion related to author’s thesis · Contains a point of view that is clearly related to author’s thesis	· Reviews major points in interesting way · Offers conclusion about author’s thesis · Contains a point of view that is clearly related to author’s thesis and develops ideas using evidence in text.
MECHANICS	·Many spelling errors that could have been detected by spell-checker  ·Many grammatical errors	· Spelling or grammatical errors but not both  · Lack of noun/pronoun agreement  · Lack of subject/verb agreement · Or other consistent grammatical errors	· Spelling or grammatical errors that spell check could miss	· Correct spelling  · No grammatical errors