80.0 % Comprehension of content.

Content
is incomplete and omits most of the requirements stated in the assignment
criteria. Major points are irrelevant to the assignment. No outside sources
were used to support major points.

Content
is incomplete or omits some requirements stated in the assignment criteria.
Major points are not clear and/or persuasive. No outside sources were used to
support major points.

Content
is adequate and meets the requirements stated in the assignment’s criteria.
Major points are addressed. Research is evident.

Content
is comprehensive and accurate, and definitions are clearly stated. Major
points are stated clearly and are supported. Research is adequate, timely,
relevant, and addresses all of the issues stated in the assignment criteria.
At least two relevant academic sources were cited.

Content
is comprehensive, accurate, and persuasive with examples; definitions are
clearly stated. Major points are stated clearly and are well supported.
Research is adequate, timely, relevant, and addresses all of the issues
stated in the assignment criteria. At least two relevant academic sources
were cited.

17.0 %Organization and
Effectiveness

6.0 % Thesis Development and Purpose

Paper
lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim.

Thesis
and/or main claim are insufficiently developed and/or vague; purpose is not
clear.

Thesis
and/or main claim are apparent and appropriate to purpose.

Thesis
and/or main claim are clear and forecast the development of the paper. It is
descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose.

Thesis
and/or main claim are comprehensive; contained within the thesis is the
essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.

6.0 % Paragraph Development and Transitions

Paragraphs
and transitions consistently lack unity and coherence. No apparent
connections between paragraphs are established. Transitions are inappropriate
to purpose and scope. Organization is disjointed.

Some
paragraphs and transitions may lack logical progression of ideas, unity,
coherence, and/or cohesiveness. Some degree of organization is evident.

Paragraphs
are generally competent, but ideas may show some inconsistency in
organization and/or in their relationships to each other.

A
logical progression of ideas between paragraphs is apparent. Paragraphs
exhibit a unity, coherence, and cohesiveness. Topic sentences and concluding
remarks are appropriate to purpose.

There
is a sophisticated construction of paragraphs and transitions. Ideas progress
and relate to each other. Paragraph and transition construction guide the
reader. Paragraph structure is seamless.

5.0 % Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar,
language use)

Surface
errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning.
Inappropriate word choice and/or sentence construction are used.

Frequent
and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in
language choice (register), sentence structure, and/or word choice are
present.

Some
mechanical errors or typos are present, but are not overly distracting to the
reader. Correct sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are
used.

Prose
is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. A
variety of sentence structures and effective figures of speech are used.

Writer
is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.

3.0 %Format

1.0 % Paper Format (1- inch margins; 12-point-font; double-spaced; Times
New Roman, Arial, or Courier)

GCU
template is not used appropriately or documentation format is rarely followed
correctly.

GCU
template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken; lack of control
with formatting is apparent.

GCU
template is used, and formatting is correct, although some minor errors may
be present.

GCU
template is fully used; There are virtually no errors in formatting style.

All
format elements are correct.

2.0 % Research Citations (In-text citations for paraphrasing and direct
quotes, and reference page listing and formatting, as appropriate to
assignment)

No
reference page is included. No citations are used.

Reference
page is present. Citations are inconsistently used.

Reference
page is included and lists sources used in the paper. Sources are
appropriately documented, although some errors may be present.

Reference
page is present and fully inclusive of all cited sources. Documentation is
appropriate and GCU style is usually correct.

In-text
citations and a reference page are complete. The documentation of cited
sources is free of error.

100 % Total Weightage