1. Research Outline & Bibliography Scoring Guide Category4321 Goal or thesis statement The goal or thesis provides a clear, strong statement of the author’s position on the topic. The goal or thesis provides a clear statement of the author’s position on the topic. A goal or thesis is present, but it does not make the author’s position clear. There is no goal or thesis. Reasons for supporting goal or thesis and main sections Includes 3 or more reasons (facts, statistics, examples, headings) that support each section (Roman numeral). The writer has subgroups of information (1, 2, etc.) under letter headings. Includes 3 or more reasons (facts, statistics, examples, headings) that support each section (Roman numeral). Includes 2 reasons (facts, statistics, examples, headings) that support each section (Roman numeral). Includes 1 or fewer reasons (facts, statistics, examples, headings) that support each section (Roman numeral). Organization and Sequencing There is a logical order that makes it easy to follow. Sentence and paragraph structure is complete and well- written. Headings and details are provided in a fairly logical order that makes it reasonably easy to follow the author’s train of thought. Writer uses headings and details required. A few of the headings or details are not in an expected or logical order, distracting the reader and making the outline seem a little confusing. Structural problems are present. Many of the headings or supporting details are not in an expected or logical order, distracting and confusing the reader. Serious structural problems are present. Mechanics and grammar Contains no spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. Material is in quotation marks if copied. Contains several errors in punctuation, spelling, or grammar that do not interfere with meaning. Material is in quotation marks if copied. Contains many punctuation, spelling, and/or grammatical errors that interfere with meaning. Some material is not quoted and needs to be. Contains many punctuation, spelling, and/or grammatical errors that make the piece confusing. Some material is not quoted and needs to be. Outline format Complies with all of the requirements for a formal outline. Complies with almost all of the requirements for a formal outline. Complies with several of the requirements for a formal outline. Complies with fewer than 75% of the requirements for a formal outline. Bibliography Skill-based topic The student can perform the skill or process important to the topic with no significant errors and with fluency. Additionally, the student understands the key features of the skill or process. The student can perform the skill or process important to the topic without making significant errors. The student makes some significant errors when performing the skill or process important to the topic but still accomplishes a rough approximation of the skill or process. The student makes so many errors in performing the skill or process important to the topic that he or she cannot actually perform the skill or process. Bibliography Communication skills The student uses all necessary conventions of writing without error. Additionally, includes some conventions that are not essential to the communication but add to the overall quality of the communication. The student uses all necessary conventions of writing without error. The student does not use some required conventions of writing or demonstrates errors in the use of some conventions. The communication demonstrates an attempt at using the necessary conventions of writing but has significant errors or omissions. The communication demonstrates little or no attention to the use of necessary conventions of writing.