Content

Unsatisfactory
0

Borderline
1.5

Satisfactory
3

Exemplary
4.5

Score

Title Page

Title, course, instructor, semester

Missing more than two of the following (course, instructor, semester), or the title,  or the name; Title is lacking all together

Missing two of the following (course, instructor, semester), except title or name; Title is insufficient by not being informative of the report content

Missing one of the following (course, instructor, semester) except title or name; Title is too long and provides too much information that is not concise or indicative of the topic

Contains title, name, date, course, instructor, semester; Title is a clear and concise statement that indicated the topic that your are writing on

Introduction:

Explanation of topic

No introduction is provided

Gives very little information; Consists of only 1 or 2 sentences

Gives too much information, more like a summary.  Length more > 5 sentences

Presents a concise lead-in to the report by explaining what the topic of the report is; defines any broad topic / title topic terms that provides the reader with a background of the report; Length should be limited to 3-5 sentences

Purpose / Problem / Goal / Objective Statement

No statement is provided

Addresses an issue which is unrelated to research. Statement located as a separate section just after introduction

Addresses an issue somewhat related to research. Located as a separate section just after introduction

Addresses a real issue directly related to research findings.  Located as a separate section just after introduction

Methods:

Describe how the study was conducted; written in the past tense

Not sequential, most steps are missing or are confusing.

Some of the steps are understandable; most are confusing and lack detail.  Written as a list of instructions

Most of the steps are understandable; some lack detail or are confusing. Lacked modifications or did not refer to original procedure.

Presents easy-to-follow methods for different part of the laboratory which are logical and adequately detailed;  entire procedure not normally written out, but refer to handout or source, unless some modification to the procedure was made, in which the changes should be described

Results:

Presentation of your data, written in past tense

No results are reported

Both incomplete, minor inaccuracies and/or illegible characters. Results not reported in the same order as the methods were written; details of report finding written first, major findings second; Reference to a table or a figure, was simple reinstatement of data in the figure or table;

Both accurate, some ill-formed characters; Results may or may not be reported in the same order as the methods were written; mixing of major findings and details for each categories; Reference to a table or a figure, was simple reinstatement of data in the figure or table;

Condense and clear report of the data and answering of questions. Results are reported in the same order as the methods were written; major findings written first for each category, followed more detailed information;  When referring to a table or a figure, write about the pattern of the data via ranges and average values;

Discussion:

Your interpretation of the results

Significance of the results and sources of error

Presents an illogical explanation for findings and does not address any of the questions suggested in the handout.

Presents an illogical explanation for findings and addresses few questions.

Presents a logical explanation for findings and addresses some of the questions. Consists of a paragraph of a few sentences

Presents a logical explanation for findings and addresses most of the questions; explanation of any sources of error. Consists of several paragraphs of several to a few sentences per paragraph

References:

See following pages for examples

No references listed

Some references listed; or not properly formatted

All references listed, but not properly formatted; or not all references listed, but were properly formatted

All references listed and properly formatted

Figures:

Have a horizontal (bottom) and vertical (left) axis;

Figure legend listed below the figure; symbols and units present in axes labels; see following pages for examples

No figure legend(s); No horizontal lines breaking the header from the data and or multiple vertical lines present

Figure legend(s) only consists of the word “Figure” plus what ever number it is.  (e.g. Figure 1) without a description.  Figure legend(s) may be on the top or the bottom of figure

Figure legend(s) is/are presented at the bottom of the figure.  Figure legend(s) include(s) the number (e.g. Fig. 1), but does not accurately describe the figure; or does not include the fig. number; or is placed above the figure itself

Figure legend(s) accurately describe(s) the figure(s) and provide enough information to stand alone without referring back to the text; are located below the figure itself. Figure legend(s) are listed below the figure.

Tables:

Table legend (i.e. title) located above the table itself and should be self explanatory of the information contained in the table.  Has 5 main points: 1) the number and title; 2) the vertical heading(s) (column) called boxhead; 3) the horizontal headings (row headings) called the stub; 4) the fields that have the data; 5) 3 horizontal lines across the table with 1 placed below table legend (title), 1 below the boxhead; and 1at the bottom of the table; See example

No table legend; No horizontal lines breaking the header from the data and or multiple vertical lines present

Table legend only consists of the word “Table” plus what ever number it is.  (E.g. Table 1) without and description.  Table legend may be on the top or the bottom of Table

Table legend is presented at the top of the table.  Table legend includes the number (e.g. Table 1), but does not accurately describe the table; or does not include the table number; or is placed below the table itself

Table legends (titles) has table number and accurately describes the table and provide enough information to stand alone without referring back to the text; are located above the figure itself: Tables are have only 3 horizontal lines, 1 below the title, one below the boxhead, and one below the last data row

ACCURACY

Unsatisfactory
0

Borderline
.5

Satisfactory
1

Exemplary
1.5

Score

Units/Data Manipulation:

Units are rarely used or are generally incorrect. Dimensional analysis not used. Math not shown. Figures display data incorrectly.

Units used only in some key parts of report Calculations contain some errors in dimensional analysis or math. Figures correct. No labels or legend

Units generally used correctly in most of report. Calculations contain few errors in dimensional analysis or math. Figures correct, variables unlabeled.

Units are used correctly and consistently throughout the report. Calculations clearly laid out. Dimensional analysis/Math correct. Figures display data correctly, all variables labeled.

Organization and Writing Style

Unsatisfactory
0

Borderline
1.25

Satisfactory
2.5

Exemplary
4

Score

Organization:

Title page, Introduction, Statement of Problem, Methods, Results, Discussion, References, Tables, Figures

More than 2 categories missing or out of sequence.

Not more than 2 categories missing or out of sequence.

Not more than one category missing or out of sequence.

Proper order/sequence as listed

Grammar & Spelling

Very frequent grammar and/or spelling errors.

More than two errors.

Only one or two errors.

All grammar and spelling are correct.

Total (out of 50)