iRubric: Civil War Paper Rubric

The historical content
selected:

• Clearly relates to the
claim and provides a
clear context based in
historical content.
• The writer notes
relationships between
historical events, or
situates the documents
(both primary and
corroborating secondary
sources) or argument in
their historical setting.

• Demonstrates an
understanding of the
time period.

The historical content
selected:

• Relates to the claim
and/or provides a clear
context in historical
content

• The writer adequately
notes relationships
between historical
events or situates the
documents (both
primary and
corroborating secondary
sources) or argument in
their historical setting.

• Demonstrates an
understanding

The historical content
selected:

• Somewhat relates to the
claim and includes
factual details about the
context of the primary or
corroborating secondary
documents themselves.

• Presents an
inconsistent
interpretation of
historical events, weakly
grounded in evidence

• Demonstrates a limited
understanding of the
time period.

The historical content
selected:

• Does not relate to the
claim (if present) or
provide a clear context
based in historical
content.

• Does not incorporate
either primary or
corroborating secondary
sources.

• Presents an inconsistent
interpretation of
historical events, not
grounded in evidence.

The response has a
clear and effective
organizational structure.

• Effective, consistent
use of a variety of
transitions

• Logical progression
of ideas from
beginning to end

• Effective introduction
and conclusion for
audience and
purpose

• Strong connections
among ideas with
some syntactic
variety

The response has a
clear and effective
organizational structure.

• Adequate use of
transitional
strategies with some
variety

• Adequate
progression of ideas
from beginning to
end

• Adequate
introduction and
conclusion
• Adequate, if slightly
inconsistent,
connection among
ideas

The response has an
inconsistent
organization and flaws
are evident.
• Inconsistent use of
basic transitional
strategies with little
variety

• Uneven progression
of ideas from
beginning to end

• Conclusion and
introduction, if
present, are weak

• Weak connections
between ideas

The response has a no
discernible
organizational structure:

• Few or no transitional
strategies are
evident

• Frequent extraneous
ideas may intrude