SOC 345 - Critique Rubric

This rubric is designed to give students guidance about what is expected of them in terms of how the critique assignments are evaluated. The numbers will also be used as a “short-hand” method to make comments on your critiques. In order to receive a grade in the "A" range, all criteria must be met with at least a "3" and two of the last three criteria must receive a "4". In order to receive a grade in the "B" range, at least four of the five criteria must be met with at least a "3" and those must include citations and coverage. Any critique with one or more of the criteria met with a "1" is likely to receive a failing grade.

	Excellent (4)	Good (3)	Poor (2)	Very Poor (1)
Style	The critique is well written in clear and grammatically correct English with correct word usage. Sentences are well written and flow logically. The critique uses the specified font and margins.	The critique is, for the most part, well written in clear and grammatically correct English. The critique uses the specified margins.	The critique has a significant number of grammatical errors and/or incorrect word choice.	The critique is poorly written and hard to understand with many grammatical errors and misused words.
Citations- Note that improperly cited papers will be returned for correction with grade deduction.	All appropriate material is cited (i.e. quotations, facts which are not common knowledge, ideas which are not your own) and citations have all the appropriate information including page numbers	Most appropriate material is cited and citations have all the appropriate information including page numbers	Most appropriate material is cited but some is not. Citations may not all have the appropriate information	Much of the appropriate material is not cited and citations may not include all the appropriate information
Coverage	The critique deals with all major aspects of the article being critiqued and demonstrates a high level of understanding of the arguments in the article.	The critique deals with most of the major aspects of the article being critiqued and demonstrates a correct understanding of most of the arguments in the article.	The critique omits some of the major aspects of the article and/or demonstrates incomplete or superficial understanding of the arguments in the article.	The critique covers the article superficially and/or demonstrates little understanding of the arguments in the article
Logic	Your analysis, especially whether you agree with the conclusions of the article, flows clearly from your discussion of the hypothesis and methodology of the article.	Your analysis derives in an identifiable manner from your discussion of the hypothesis and methodology of the article.	Your analysis does not seem to come from your discussion of the hypothesis and methodology of the article.	You perform little or no analysis in deciding whether you agree with the article’s conclusions.
Creativity	Your analysis of the hypothesis is original and thoughtful and your alternative methodology shows careful thought and imagination.	Your analysis of the hypothesis is original and thoughtful or your alternative methodology shows careful thought and imagination.	Your analysis of the hypothesis is superficial and your alternative methodology shows little imagination.	You perform little or no analysis of the article or your analysis is not correct and you do not provide an alternative methodology.