| Rubric for Action Research Papers RE 5040 This paper should address why and how you conducted your action research project. You should provide detailed background and introductory information, your specific research question(s), research design, results, and discussion of the results. Please write in the first person. Your paper will be turned in electronically, so please single-space within paragraphs and double-space between. The paper is due one week after your presentation date. 40 total points possible |
| Content | Beginning | Developed | Accomplished |
| Introduction or background. Big picture description of problem that interested you. Research review. Research question(s). |
Basic treatment of nature of problem. Some related studies cited. Research question(s) stated. (0-1 pts) |
Thoughtful explanation of nature of problem. Studies cited and related to your problem and question. Research question stated and related to problem described. (2-3 pts) | Detailed and insightful explanation of nature of problem. Important studies cited and clearly related to your problem and question. Research question(s) is (are) clearly stated and related closely to problem described. (4 pts) |
| Research design. | Less than thorough description of two or more categories described in “accomplished” category. (0-6 pts) |
Thorough description of at least 3 of the 4 categories described in “accomplished” category. Description of the 4th. (7-8 pts) |
Thorough description of (a) relevant participant characteristics (e.g., gender, race, SES, reading score data...), (b) intervention procedures (what students and you did, how often, how long), (c) data collection (what info you gathered to answer what questions, instruments and procedures used to get that info), (d) data analysis (how you organized, examined, coded, categorized, summarized, analyzed data). (9-10 pts) |
| Results | You provide generally organized results that may leave the reader with important questions about what you found out either because important data is missing or the organization makes it difficult to understand. (0-5 pts) |
You provide organized and generally thorough treatment of the results you obtained. (6-7 pts) |
You provide well-organized, through treatment of the results you obtained (student data, teacher data, classroom or school data). (8-9 pts) |
| Discussion | Your explanation of the information described in the “accomplished” category leaves the reader less than satisfied, or perhaps confused about what your study means, whether it matters, and whether you really understood what you did or what it means. (0-5 pts) |
You explain fairly thoughtfully and in detail what your results mean for teaching and learning. You address to some extent what you understand better as a result of your study. You explain to some extent how your results matter, to whom, and why. (6-7 pts) |
You explain thoughtfully and thoroughly what your results mean for teaching and learning. You address what you understand better as a result of your study. You explain how your results matter, to whom, and why. You might, but don’t have to, address important directions for future research in this area. (8-9 pts) |
| Total Possible Points | 0-17 pts | 21-25 pts | 29-32 pts |
| Form | Beginning | Developed | Accomplished |
| Title page | Incomplete info. (0 pts) | Includes project title, your name, grade level, and school. (1 pt) | Includes project title, your name, grade level, and school. (1 pt) |
| References | Incomplete or missing reference. APA style most of the time. (0-1 pts) |
References to any works cited, formal instruments, etc. APA style nearly always within text and reference list. (2 pts) | Full references to any works cited, formal instruments, etc. APA style within text and reference list. (3 pts) |
| Paper quality: organization, readability, language use. |
Organization loose. Language, syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling are less than respectful of readers on occasion. Explanations and arguments are occasionally difficult to follow. (0-1 pts) |
Fairly clear organization. Language, syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling are respectful of readers. Coherence and transitions occasionally make the paper more of a job than a joy to read. Reads like another draft would move it to the accomplished level. (2-3 pts) |
Clear internal organization (headings, intros, summaries). Language, syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling are highly respectful of readers. Paper is a pleasure to read. (4 pts) |
| Total possible points | 0-2 pts | 5-6 pts | 8 pts |