Student’s Name ___________________________________ ID # ________________
Faculty Assessors ______________________________________________________
Thesis/Special Project Rubric
Capstone Rubric
(Plans A/C/E)
Does Not Meet
Expectations (1)
1. Definition of
Project/Introduction
Or Statement of
Hypothesis
Introduction does not
clearly explain the nature
and structure of the
capstone, its rationale and
relevance to discipline.
Introduction clearly presents
the capstone, its nature,
relevance and structure.
Introduction makes strong
case for the value the capstone
provides to the discipline, as
well as presenting its
nature and structure.
Argument is unclear,
inconsistent,
inappropriate, or not
suitably original.
Argument is appropriate,
clearly presented,
consistently applied, and
suitably original.
Argument is clear, consistent,
sophisticated,
and strikingly original.
3. Familiarity with/
Grounded in
Literature.
Knowledgeable of the
current state of
discipline
Does not indicate
familiarity with literature;
has large gaps and shows
little grounding of the
capstone in the literature.
No substantive
engagement.
Displays familiarity with
reasonably full range of
literature; demonstrates an
appropriate grounding and
engagement with the
literature.
Displays impressive
familiarity with full range
of and grounding in literature;
engages with it substantively
and productively.
4. Methodology or
Plans for the Project
Methodology is not
clearly presented, not
appropriate or not
adequately applied to
capstone.
Methodology is clearly
presented, relevant and
appropriately applied to
capstone.
Methodology and project are
mutually enriching.
5. Results/Findings/
Demonstration of
Thesis Argument and
Claims
Outcomes minimally
address research questions
and fail to demonstrate its
claims persuasively.
Presentation minimally
addresses research
questions; structure
reflects a lack of
organization, detail,
understanding and/or
accuracy.
Outcomes address research
questions. Presentation of
evidence uses argumentation
and is reasonably persuasive
in making connections with
research ideas.
Outcomes thoroughly address
research questions.
Presentation of evidence
conveys a mastery of
argumentation. Structure
provides a coherent and
clear focus of new understandings.
6. Summary/
Conclusion or closing
argument
Capstone summary is
minimally supported by
results and/or findings;
exhibits a lack of original
ideas, personal
interpretation of findings,
and/or an inability to draw
an inventive synopsis.
Summary sufficiently
supported by results and/or
findings while adequately
and accurately summarizing
the capstone.
Summary presents carefully
analyzed information to
present inventive and
originally developed decisions
and/or conclusions supported
by results and/or findings.
7. Bibliography/
References
Lack of proper format and
limited details with many
sources missing or
incomplete.
Bibliography/References are
mostly complete and
correctly formatted. Capstone
contains a variety of sources.
Bibliography/References are
complete (all sources shown)
and correctly formatted;
inserted to validate evidence.
Writing is unclear,
distracts from meaning, is
not at appropriate level, or
contains excessive errors.
Writing is clear and
appropriately sophisticated,
with virtually no errors, and
supports meaning.
Writing is at or near
professional level, has no errors,
and enhances meaning.
TOTALS: _____________ ____________ _______________
OVERALL SCORE: _____________
