Three components — reflective essay (30 points), project (20 points), and bibliography (10 points) — will be judged on how well student researchers demonstrate:
- Unusual depth or broadness in the use of library resources and collections, including, but not limited to, printed resources, databases, primary resources, and materials in all media.
- Extraordinary ability to identify, locate, select, evaluate, and synthesize library resources and to use them in the creation of a project in any medium that shows originality and/or has the potential to lead to original research in the future.
- Demonstration of significant personal knowledge in the methods of research and inquiry.
The following rubrics are used to evaluate these three components of your application:
Evaluation Criteria – printable PDF
Accessible Accordion
Developing
(1-10 points)
|
Competent
(11-20 points)
|
Accomplished
(21-30 points)
|
Process
- Fails to explain or reconstruct the search process
- Does not offer insights on how the project contributed to student’s overall growth as a scholar
|
Process
- Explains or reconstructs the search process in vague terms
- Offers limited insights on how the project contributed to student’s overall growth as a scholar
|
Process
- Explains or reconstructs the search process with clear detail
- Offers in-depth insights on how the project contributed to student’s overall growth as a scholar
|
Search Strategy
- Search strategies not described
- Does not demonstrate ability to adjust search strategy when an obstacle is encountered
- Does not demonstrate ability to address unmet challenges and information gaps, and/or to respond to failure
- No evidence of use of basic search techniques
- Lacks use of flexible and creative approaches to search language
- Selected sources display little awareness of the need for in-depth digging for research materials throughout the research process.
|
Search Strategy
- Search strategies described in vague or general terms
- Demonstrates limited ability to adjust search strategy when an obstacle is encountered
- Demonstrates limited ability to address unmet challenges and information gaps, and/or to respond to failure
- Evidence of use of basic search techniques
- Demonstrates limited use of flexible and creative approaches to search language (e.g. controlled vocabulary terms, subject headings, keywords, etc.)
- Selected sources display some awareness of the need for in-depth digging for research materials throughout the research process.
|
Search Strategy
- Search strategy explicitly described
- Demonstrates ability to adjust search strategy when an obstacle is encountered
- Ability to address unmet challenges and information gaps, and/or to respond to failure
- Evidence of use of advanced search techniques
- Demonstrates flexible and creative approach to search language (e.g. controlled vocabulary terms, subject headings, keywords, etc.)
- Selected sources display awareness of the need for in-depth digging for research materials throughout the research process.
|
Resource Use
- Does not display awareness of resources appropriate to the project (e.g. research guides, databases, monographs, media, archives, reference and consultation services, interlibrary loan, etc.)
- Lacks criteria for evaluation of sources
|
Resource Use
- Displays awareness of some resources and services appropriate to the project (e.g. research guides, databases, monographs, media, archives, reference and consultation services, interlibrary loan, etc.)
- Criteria for evaluation of sources is incomplete or unclear (e.g. currency, relevance, accuracy, scope)
|
Resource Use
- Displays awareness of resources and services appropriate to the project (e.g. research guides, databases, monographs, media, archives, reference and consultation services, interlibrary loan, etc.)
- Displays clear criteria for evaluation of sources selected (e.g. currency, relevance, accuracy, scope)
|
Developing
(1-6 points)
|
Competent
(7-13 points)
|
Accomplished
(14-20 points)
|
- Writing lacks clarity; research evidence and related writing does not support or justify project argument and/or thesis.
- Most claims or assertions are lacking sufficient in-text references/citations.
- Poor selection and integration of quotes and acquired ideas.
- Selected sources address a minimal (or no) range of viewpoints and perspectives appropriate to the project.
- Inconsistent or ineffective organization of ideas; argument is lost or obscured throughout the project.
|
- Writing occasionally lacks clarity; research evidence and related writing adequately supports and justifies project argument and/or thesis.
- Some claims or assertions lack in-text references/citations.
- Quotes and acquired ideas are adequately selected; some misuse of quotes or lack of integration within argument.
- Selected sources address a satisfactory range of range of viewpoints and perspectives appropriate to the project.
- Ideas are presented and organized clearly and consistently; attempts made to maintain an argument throughout the project.
|
- Well-written; research evidence and related writing clearly supports and justifies project argument and/or thesis.
- All claims and assertions have in-text references/citations.
- Quotes and acquired ideas well selected and integrated conceptually within argument.
- Selected sources address a wide range of viewpoints and perspectives appropriate to the project.
- Excellent organization of ideas; argument is maintained and supported throughout the entirety of the project.
|
Developing
(1-3 points)
|
Competent
(4-6 points)
|
Accomplished
(7-10 points)
|
- Sources lack variety in appropriateness and format.
- Cites sources, but with significant omissions and in an inconsistent way.
- Most or all in-text citations do not have corresponding bibliography references.
|
- Sources display a variety of appropriateness and format, but fall short of complete breadth and depth.
- Cites sources, but not in a standard or consistent way
- Most in-text citations have corresponding bibliography references.
|
- Sources display a rich variety in appropriateness and format; complete breadth and depth.
- Cites sources in a standard or consistent way.
- Every in-text citation has a corresponding bibliography reference.
|