Rubric for 6th Grade Current Events Opinion/Research Paper - - Library Class
Grade Earned
Article selection
and use
A
Located and used 3
articles from credible
sources on the same
topic (at least one
from a database).
Referred to all of the
articles to support the
argument made in the
paper (always giving
the author credit).
Information in the
paper is accurate.
Writing shows a
complete
understanding of the
articles and topic.
Formulation of
argument/opinion
Formulated a wellthought out
argument/opinion
related to the topic
and three articles.
Argument/opinion is
based on facts.
Reasoning is clear,
logical and related to
the articles used.
Evidence from the
articles is relevant to
the argument being
made.
B
Located and used 3
articles on the same
topic (at least 2 of
the articles are
credible, at least one
is from a database).
Referred to all of the
articles to support
the argument made
in the paper (once or
twice, forgetting to
give the author
credit). Information
in the paper is
accurate. Writing
shows an
understanding of the
articles and topic.
Formulated a good
argument/opinion
related to the topic
and three articles.
Argument/opinion is
mostly based on
facts. Reasoning is
relatively clear,
logical and related to
the articles used.
Most of the evidence
from the articles is
relevant to the
argument being
made.
C
Located and used 3
articles, generally on a
related topic (at least 2
of the articles are
credible). Referred to
at least 2 of the articles
to support the
argument made in the
paper (occasionally,
forgetting to give the
author credit).
Information in the
paper is mostly
accurate. Writing
shows a basic
understanding of the
articles and topic.
D
Located and used 2
articles, generally on
a related topic (at
least 1 of the articles
is credible). Referred
to at least 1 of the
articles to support
the argument made
in the paper
(frequently,
forgetting to give the
author credit).
Information in the
paper contains
several inaccuracies.
Writing shows little
understanding of the
articles and topic.
Formulated an
Formulated a weak
understandable
argument/opinion,
argument/opinion
only somewhat
related to the topic and related to the topic
articles.
and articles.
Argument/opinion is
Argument/opinion is
somewhat based on
rarely based on facts.
facts. Reasoning is
Reasoning is often
sometimes unclear,
unclear, illogical and
illogical and unrelated unrelated to the
to the articles used.
articles used. Very
Some of the evidence
little of the evidence
from the articles is
from the articles is
relevant to the
relevant to the
argument being made. argument being
made.
F
No articles located/
paper submitted or
the paper submitted
shows less work than
the description of the
D level grade.
No paper submitted
or the paper
submitted shows less
work than the
description for the D
level grade.
Paper layout,
organization and
writing
Well-organized and
well-written paper
includes an
introduction of the
topic and opinion,
support for the
argument/opinion
from the three articles
used,
acknowledgement of
opposing viewpoints,
and conclusion
reaffirming the
original claim.
Spelling, punctuation,
and grammar are
perfect or nearly
perfect.
Works Cited Page
All three articles are
listed on the works
cited page in accurate
MLA citation format.
(One or two mistakes
may appear at most.)
At least one source is
a database.
Generally wellorganized and wellwritten paper
includes an
introduction of the
topic and opinion,
support for the
argument/opinion
from the three
articles used,
acknowledgement of
opposing viewpoints,
and conclusion
reaffirming the
original claim. Some
spelling, punctuation,
and grammar
mistakes may appear
in the paper.
All three articles are
listed on the works
cited page in MLA
citation format.
Some mistakes are
made in the MLA
citations. At least
one source is a
database.
Paper includes a brief
introduction of the
topic and opinion,
support for the
argument/opinion
from the articles used,
may or may not
include
acknowledgement of
opposing viewpoints,
and a weak conclusion
reaffirming the original
claim. Layout of paper
appears disorganized.
Several spelling,
punctuation, and
grammar mistakes
may appear in the
paper.
All three articles are
listed on the works
cited page. MLA
citations contain many
mistakes.
Paper includes
support for the
argument/opinion
from the articles
used. Layout of
paper is very
disorganized. Many
spelling, punctuation,
and grammar
mistakes may appear
in the paper.
Paper may not
include an
introduction,
opposing viewpoints,
and a conclusion.
No paper submitted
or the paper
submitted shows less
work than the
description for the D
level grade.
At least two articles
are listed on the
works cited page.
MLA citations
contain many
mistakes.
No work cited page
submitted or the
works cited page
submitted shows less
work than the
description for the D
level grade.