Criteria for Excellence in Research

Criteria for Excellence remain the same across Division levels
In each Division students strive for understanding progressively more complex concepts and skills
with progressively more initiative, autonomy, and awareness.

A Holistic Rubric for Division 1 (7th and 8th grade level work)
appears  following the Criteria for Excellence.
Division 2 and Division 3 rubrics are created for each assignment using the Criteria for Excellence as guidelines.

Preparation

• You brainstorm ideas and organize them visually (in lists, outlines, webs, concept maps).
• You narrow and focus your research question(s) to a manageable size.
• You identify what you already know.
• You decide what you still need to know.
• You list key words and concepts.

Search

• You identify potential search engines (library card catalog and databases; Web browsers; experts; community agencies).
• You use search engines and key words to locate a variety of sources.
• You decide which sources are relevant to your question(s).

Information Gathering

• You skim and scan to identify relevant information.
• You take accurate and sufficient notes, paraphrasing or quoting important facts and details.
• You classify, group, and label the information in your notes.
• You assess the nature and reliability of your sources (primary or secondary; fact or opinion; point of view; timeliness).
• You document your sources and compile a bibliography.

Interpretation

• You connect new information with what you know already.
• You recognize logical errors and omissions, cause and effect, and points of agreement and disagreement.
• You use the information you gathered to answer your research question(s).

Process

• You plan and manage your time effectively.
• You ask for help at appropriate points.
• You revise your question(s) as your research progresses.
• You reflect on your process and your work.

 

HOLISTIC RUBRIC FOR RESEARCH, DIVISION 1

Just Beginning

• You have not yet come up with a topic of research.
• You have not yet developed a research strategy.
• You have not used search engines to locate relevant sources.
• You have not yet found useful information or taken adequate notes.
• You have not yet organized or evaluated the information in your notes.
• You do not understand the connection between your information and your research question(s).
• You have not cited your sources in proper bibliographic form.
• You need to manage your time better, asking for help when necessary.

Approaches Division 1 Standards

• Your topic of research is not yet clear and manageable.
• Your research strategy is not yet adequate to your task.
• You need to use more search engines to locate relevant sources, or you have not yet evaluated your sources.
• You found some useful information and took some notes.
• You need to better organize and evaluate the information in your notes.
• You have not used the information effectively to answer your research question(s).
• You have not cited your sources in proper bibliographic form.
• You need to manage your time better, asking for help when necessary.

Meets Division 1 Standards ("Yes, and . . . " or "Yes, but . . .")

• You developed a clear and manageable topic of research.
• You developed a workable research strategy.
• You used search engines to locate relevant sources, and you evaluated the sources you found.
• You found useful information and took clear and accurate notes.
• You organized and evaluated the information in your notes.
• You used the information to answer your research question(s).
• You cited your sources in proper bibliographic form.
• You managed your time well, asking for help when you needed it.

Exceeds Division 1 Standards ("Yes!")

• You developed a clear, manageable, and especially thoughtful topic of research.
• You used a number of techniques to develop a workable research strategy.
• You used several search engines to locate a variety of relevant sources, and you evaluated the sources you found in an especially careful and thoughtful way.
• You found an exceptional amount of useful information and took clear and accurate notes.
• You organized and evaluated the information in your notes.
• You used the information effectively to answer your research question(s), and then extended your thinking to make new connections or ask new questions.
• You cited your sources in proper bibliographic form.
• You took responsibility for managing your time well, allowing time to reflect on your process.

Division 2 and Division 3 rubrics are often created for each assignment using the Criteria for Excellence as guidelines.

Just Beginning

• You initiated and developed on your own a clear, manageable, and especially thoughtful topic of research.
• You used a number of techniques to develop a workable research strategy.
• You independently used several search engines to locate a variety of relevant sources, and you evaluated the sources you found in an especially careful and              thoughtful way.
• You found an exceptional amount of useful information and took clear and accurate notes.
• You organized and evaluated the information in your notes.
• You used the information effectively to answer your research question(s), and then extended your thinking to make new connections or ask new questions.
• You cited your sources in proper bibliographic form.
• You reflect on your own research in the context of the research of others on your topic.
• You took responsibility for managing your time well, allowing time to reflect on your process.