Writing rubric

1. Academic Writing: Literature review writing Rubric

Element Needs Improvement Fair Strong Excellent

1 2 3 4

Grading scale 0 – 3.9 marks 4.0 – 6.4 marks 6.5 – 8.4 marks 8.5 -10 marks

10% Clear Claim with Claim is unclear. No clear Claim is clear, but the reasons Claim and reasons are clearly Claim is clearly stated
Reasons/Rationale reasons are given. are unclear, absent, or stated and the reasons are
incomplete. strong.

20% Evidence/Summaries Central claim is not Attempts to support the central Supports the central claim and Supports the central
of relevant studies supported. No evidence claim and reasons with facts, reasons with facts. necessary claim and reasons with
provided. summaries or findings of details summaries or findings strong facts, summaries
relevant studies, but of relevant studies, and or findings of relevant
information is unclear, citations. studies, thorough details,
inaccurate, or lacks citations. and accurate citations.

20% Explanation/Critique/ Contains little to no Attempts to explain and Clearly explains, analyzes, Clearly, concisely, and
Commentary/Argum explanation or analysis of the analyze the information, but and argues most of the thoroughly explains,
ent Development information presented. the explanation and argument information presented. analyzes, and argues the
is unclear or inaccurate. information presented.

20% Conclusion/Summary Abrupt or absent ending. No Ends with a concluding Ends with a concluding Ends with a strong or
of Literature concluding statement. No statement that does not clearly statement about the central compelling concluding
review/Research gap research gap is presented. relate to the central claim. The claim. The research gap is statement that clearly
research gap is unclear. roughly idetified. relates to the central
claim. The research gap
is clear and well-stated.

15% Formal Tone, Informal language present Writing contains some Writing attempts to maintain a Writing maintains a
Academic word throughout. informal elements (e.g., formal, objective, and formal, objective, and
choice, and APA contractions). academic tone. APA style is academic tone
Style used with a few mistakes. throughout. APA style is
 used correctly.

10% Organization & Little to no attempt at Attempts to organize ideas, Organizes ideas in a logical Strong organization and
Transitions/Cohesion organization. but transitional language is way. Transitional language transitional language
& Coherence needed. used. used skillfully
throughout.

5% Mechanics Distracting mechanical errors Mechanical errors distract at A few errors present, but they Mechanics reflect careful
(Spelling & throughout. times. do not distract. editing.
Grammar)

2. Grading sheet:

Element Needs Improvement Fair Strong Excellent Weighted scores

1 2 3 4

Grading scale 0 – 3.9 marks 4.0 – 6.4 marks 6.5 – 8.4 marks 8.5 -10 marks

10% Clear Claim with

Reasons/Rationale

20% Evidence/Summaries
of relevant studies

20% Explanation/Critique/
Commentary/Argum
ent Development

20% Conclusion/Summary
of Literature
review/Research gap

15% Formal Tone,

 Academic word
choice, and APA
Style

10% Organization &

Transitions/Cohesion
& Coherence

5% Mechanics
(Spelling &
Grammar)

Total scores