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1 |
The use of "a lot of" is slang. Some alternatives are: many, several or
a great deal of |
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2 |
The use of conjunctions (isn't, doesn't, etc.) is considered slang. |
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3 |
The use of "like when" is slang. Some alternatives are: for example,
for instance |
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4 |
Know the difference between "its" and "it's," between "affect" and
"effect," etc. |
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5 |
The use of the word "because" at the beginning of a sentence is rarely
acceptable. Refrain from using "This is" to repeatedly start sentences. |
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6 |
When referring to a company, one would use for example, the company and
its employees, or the management had its hands tied, or the managers had
their hands tied. |
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7 |
All papers should be double-spaced, should use 11 point Times, Times New
Roman, Times Roman, Century, or Century Schoolbook font. |
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8 |
Spell out numbers under 10. One, two, three, four, etc. unless they are
decimals. For example, two million employees and 7.5 terabytes. |
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9 |
Papers should have page numbering. |
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10 |
Put your name on your paper. |
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11 |
It is best to use paragraph indentions (5 spaces) in a double spaced
paper. Most professors will accept an extra space between paragraphs.
Do not do both. |
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Example |
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If you do not wish to repeatedly use a company name, use its stock
ticker as an abbreviation. To do so, first let the reader know you will
be using the abbreviation by using it in parenthesis after the name.
For example, The mad cow disease discovery in
Washington state has not negatively affected the common share price of
McDonald's Corporation (MCD) stock. After the European mad cow disease
scare, MCD added several more chicken dishes to its menu.
In this example one sees that MCD does not stand for "mad cow disease" -
it stands for McDonald's Corporation. Additionally, the proper use of
"affect," "its" and "several" are used rather than "effect," "their" and
"a lot of." |
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Style |
Poor |
Satisfactory |
Excellent |
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Overall organization |
rambling, incoherent, repetition of thoughts |
parts of paper are well integrated, but inconsistency in overall
organization. |
flows from general to specific to general or uses an alternative scheme
that flows equally well; follow tenets of useful information: complete,
concise, timely, relevant and accurate |
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Sentence structure |
run-on and/or fractured sentences |
only a few problematic sentences |
all sentences are clear and sharp |
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Paragraph structure |
paragraphs lack topic sentences, missing transitions from one paragraph
to the next |
most paragraphs are coherent and have smooth transitions to adjacent
paragraphs |
each paragraph has a clear purpose and the transitions between
paragraphs are transparent |
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Word choice and grammar |
mismatch of tense and number between subjects and verbs, pronouns with
unclear antecedents, use of inappropriate words and slang |
relatively few of the errors described under the 'poor' column, word
choice is competent but not exciting |
good use of language with no use of slang |
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Spelling |
Rife with errors, no evidence of spell-checker use |
a few errors, perhaps indicating sole reliance on a spell checker |
perfect |
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Format of citations |
non-existent, incomplete or careless footnotes and bibliographies |
largely complete but has some inconsistencies and inaccuracies or some,
but not all sources are identified |
complete and accurate |
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Summary of key issues |
Confusing, not understandable to a "lay-person" |
reasonably clear, may include too much or too little detail |
crystal clear presentation of facts and ideas from what you read and
what was presented in class |
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If opinion is warranted, clear statement of your opinion |
absent of self-contradictory |
present, but too vague |
clear and explicit |
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If opinion is warranted, use of logical arguments to support opinion |
absent or illogical |
one solid argument or a few unconvincing or partially overlapping
arguments |
several convincing arguments that make sense in support of your position |
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Use of appropriate evidence to support your case |
no evidence or evidence that is not relevant or is inconsistent with
your argument; evidence that comes from a disreputable source. |
fairly obvious or conventional examples or evidence |
one or more novel but highly relevant examples of evidence or creative
ideas based on evidence |
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Creativity novelty |
- |
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my reaction when I read your paper is "Wow, this is excellent, I wish I
had thought of it." |
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Matrix adapted from Stephen Jenkins, PhD, Professor, Biology, UNR |
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