The course grading rubric as good writing criteria
The course-grading rubric maps out the criteria for writing a good research paper for class. It covers all the necessary aspects of writing a quality paper, such as knowledge, evidence, purpose, message, structure, organization, and grammar. The conditions are understandable and are explained succinctly and efficiently.
Knowledge and evidence criteria address the use of sources and references in the paper. In academic writing, all sources must be properly cited. Depending on the level of research, some sources may be deemed untrustworthy. For example, citing an internet article without a date or an author would not be acceptable in a dissertation paper, which would require up-to-date and peer-reviewed sources.
The purpose and message of the paper is a criterion applicable to any paper, no matter the level and depth of research. As the grading rubric correctly states, insightful thesis statements, and consistency of logic and message throughout the paper is important for good writing.
Structure and organization of the paper are important for enabling the readers to assess and find information in the paper more efficiently. This includes dividing the text with headings and subheadings, providing abstracts, etcetera. If the paper is written as a wall of text with no discernable division, the readers will have a hard time finding what they need in it.
The last point mentioned in the rubric is grammar. The quality of writing is very important in any academic research. If the paper is written with glaring mistakes and lacks punctuation, the readers will have a hard time recognizing certain words. Also, not using grammar is simply disrespectful towards the readers.
Elements of Good Writing
What makes writing good? That is a very vague question with no definite answer. The quality of writing, in many cases, is a subjective matter, as different people like different styles of writing. This is often proven in literature, where quality is in the eye of the beholder. Criteria for good writing in classic literature and academic literature are very different, with the only common point between the two being the demand for proper grammar and punctuation.
In a school or a college setting, academic writing is prevalent. It takes many forms, from reports and assessments to essays and research papers. Typically, universities and other educational facilities have their grading criteria for academic writing. These criteria are very similar, with slight differentiations. These criteria are grammar, paper organization, quality of sources, and clarity of the message (“Rubric for Academic Writing”).
Another important factor that is rarely touched upon in any of these grading rubrics is the clarity of writing. Clarity of writing stands not for grammar, but rather for the ability to understand the text. All scientific articles are written with varying degrees of clarity. Some are easy enough to understand even for the readers without any special knowledge or experience on the subject, while others are problematic even for professionals to read.
Many factors contribute to the clarity of writing. Using simpler sentences, avoiding an overabundance of scientific terms and expressions, and structuring the text properly all improve the reader’s capabilities of understanding and processing the information (Moxley). It is, by far, one of the most understated and most important factors in good writing. A researcher could make brilliant points and arguments to validate their research, but with poor writing, chances are they would be missed or ignored, lost in a blur of pointless scientific terms.
Works Cited
Cali, Kathleen. “Organization.” Learn NC. 2017. Web.
Weida, Stacey, and Karl Stolley. “Using Research and Evidence.” Purdue Owl. 2013. Web.