Literature Review Rubric

Name:  _____________________________  Review Topic:  _________________

Format:  ___  Length  ___  Margins  ___  Font

___  I.  Introduction  (15%)

5                    Introduction provides explanation of topic importance, with reference to authoritative

sources, and describes the specific scope of the paper.

4        Introduction provides statement of importance of the topic but without appropriate references and describes the scope of the paper in general terms.

3                    Introduction is unclear and either does not establish the importance of the topic or does not describe an appropriate scope for the paper.

2                    Introduction does not prepare the reader for what follows or includes multiple errors in grammar, mechanics, usage, or spelling.

1                    Introduction is essentially a statement of the writer’s opinion(s) and fails to delimit the scope of the paper.

____  II.  Body  (40%)

5                    The paper, as a whole, provides a coherent, thorough review of the relevant

literature and applies APA style consistently.

4                    The paper, as a whole, lists or describes studies and articles singly without discussion tying together the various parts of the paper, or omits reference to a major work on the topic, but applies APA style consistently.

3                    The paper, as a whole, lacks organization and clarity, inadequately paraphrases so that the writing style is inconsistent, and applies APA style inconsistently.

2                    The paper, as a whole, provides a limited and inadequate review of the literature, uses direct quotations instead of paraphrasing, or includes multiple errors in grammar, mechanics, usage, or spelling.

1                    Due to language errors, the paper, as a whole, is incomprehensible.

____  III.  Conclusions  (15%)

5                    Concluding statements provide a synthesis of the major points evident in the thorough review of the relevant literature and offer a position supported by the evidence.

4                    Concluding statements repeat what has already been stated in the body of the paper but provide a conclusion supported by evidence from a thorough literature review.

3                    Concluding statements list or describe findings from the literature without attempting to offer a synthesis or provide a conclusion based on evidence from the literature.

2                    Concluding statements are not based on logical conclusions from the review in the body of the paper.

1                    Conclusions are based primarily on the writer’s opinions rather than material in the literature review or are incomprehensible.

____  IV.  References  (30%)

5                    References are drawn from appropriate sources, all are cited in the body of the paper, and the references list follows APA guidelines.

4                    References include no more than one inappropriate source or source not cited in the body of the paper, and the references list follows APA guidelines.

3        References include inappropriate sources or sources not cited in the body of the paper, or the references list does not follow APA guiidelines.

2                    References are characterized by two or more of the traits described in “3” immediately above.

1                    Sources cited in the paper do not appear on the references list or APA guidelines

have been ignored.