Peer Review Rubric for Academic Work (Student Research Papers and Research Articles)

MARK

THEMATIC ALIGNMENT

ORIGINALITY AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

STYLISTIC AND TECHNICAL MERIT

Just what we are looking for

  • The work contains a strong, memorable narrative that deepens understanding of the theme.
  • The work contains in-depth analysis that goes far beyond simply quoting the theme or repeatedly mentioning the words “children” or “peace” and helps the reader understand the theme in new ways.
  • The work provides appropriate local historical, cultural, and linguistic context that helps readers from other cultures understand what is at stake in the narrative or the argument, such as what words like “peace” or “children” mean in this particular place or group of people.
  • The work shows change over time.
  • The work explains the unique context in which its story occurs.
  • The work draws on a wide variety of well documented, verifiable primary sources. It exhibits creativity, originality, and authenticity in the discussion of historical actors and events, and in the use of unique primary sources.
  • The work builds on the work of existing scholarship by referencing several secondary sources (such as journal articles or books).
  • The work adds to or updates existing understanding of Latter-day Saint history and engages with broader academic conversation relevant to this topic or time period.

  • Writing is well-organized (one part of the story leads smoothly to the next part of the story).
  • Language is clear and engaging.
  • The work includes a bibliography referencing many sources. Footnotes or endnotes are used to substantiate all claims of fact. Footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography entries are cited in a style consistent with local academic standards.
  • There are no or very few grammatical mistakes, spelling/character errors, or typographical errors.

Nearly what we are looking for

  • Narrative clearly has something to do with the theme.
  • Some analysis of how the historical events or actions relate to the theme.
  • Some local historical, cultural, and/or linguistic context to help readers from other cultures understand the full significance of the story.

  • The work shows some change over time.
  • The work gives some context for the story.
  • Somewhat creative, original, and authentic in using some primary sources and showing some perspectives.
  • The work makes some use of existing scholarship and references one or two secondary sources (such as journal articles or books).
  • The research relies on some internet sources of variable quality such as Wikipedia (it is fine to use Wikipedia to verify basic, common-knowledge facts such as the date a country gained independence, or the name of a government official, but Wikipedia is not always reliable for historical analysis, interpretations, and lesser-known facts).
  • Adds somewhat to existing understanding of Latter-day Saint narratives.

  • Storytelling has some organization (one part of the story leads smoothly to the next part of the story)
  • The language is somewhat clear and engaging.
  • A bibliography exists and references show an attempt at proper citations in a professional style.
  • Readability is affected by some grammatical mistakes, spelling/character errors, or typographical errors.

Not what we are looking for

  • Narrative does not relate to the theme.
  • The work lacks analysis of how the historical events or actions relate to the theme.
  • The work lacks local historical, cultural, and linguistic context. Readers from other cultures would not understand what was going on and why this story relates to the theme.

  • The work lacks new historical characters, sources, or perspectives.
  • The work lacks analysis of primary sources and only one perspective.
  • The work does not use articles from peer-reviewed journals, and/or university press books.
  • The research relies on some internet sources of variable quality such as Wikipedia (it is fine to use Wikipedia to verify basic, common-knowledge facts such as the date a country gained independence, or the name of a government official, but Wikipedia is not always reliable for historical analysis, interpretations, and lesser-known facts).
  • The work lacks creativity, originality, and authenticity due to lack of primary sources and use of internet authoring sites
  • The paper makes no contribution to existing understanding of Latter-day Saint narratives.

  • Storytelling is disorganized (one part of the story does not lead smoothly to the next part of the story).
  • The language is confusing and hard to follow.
  • There is a lack of a bibliography and no proper citations using a professional style guide.
  • Readability is impaired by grammatical mistakes, spelling/character errors, or typographical errors.