Rubric for Independent Project Lab Report

 

Abstract

Clearly and concisely written,

includes a title that reflects content,

includes the objective of study, hypothesis, methods, results & conclusion

20 pts

 

 

Includes all the elements listed above but is not concisely written (that is too long)

15 pts

 

 

Is missing one or two of the above elements, but is concisely and well written.

10 pts

 

 

Does not follow the abstract format, but contains some of the information.  Writing needs some improvement.

5 pts

 

 

No abstract present, or does not follow format and is poorly written

0 pts

 

Introduction

Provides excellent background information; quotes sources, states the objective and expands on the value of study; states the question and hypothesis.  Is well written.

20 pts

 

 

Provides good background information; quotes sources, states the objective but does not expand on the value of study, states the question and hypothesis. Is well written.

15 pts

 

 

Provides weak background information; sources are not quoted properly, does not expand on value of study; objective, question and hypothesis are present, but writing is weak.

10 pts

 

 

Missing two or more of the elements of an Introduction; writing is weak .

5 pts

 

 

Unclear and missing parts of an introduction; does not quote sources

0 pts

 

Materials & Methods

Clearly presents the experimental design; states what the independent variable, control and dependent (s) variable(s) are.  Provides a detailed description of both the materials and methods used.  A reader could replicate the experiment after reading this section.

20 pts

 

 

Clearly presents the experimental design including variables, but the methods are not well defined and materials used are not described in detail.

15 pts

 

 

Experimental design is not clear.  Variables are stated, but the methods are not stated or materials used are not described in detail.

10 pts

 

 

Experimental design unclear; methods are not clearly presented and materials used are not describe in detail.

5 pts

 

 

Unclear experimental setup; unclear methods

0 pts

 

Data & Data Analysis

Displays data in an organized professional manner, that is graphs, charts & Illustrations.  Graphs and Charts are labeled and have captions explaining them.  Illustrations have captions explaining them.  Data analysis and interpretation is clear.  Variation is considered as well as means.  Interpretation of data is accurate.

20 pts

 

 

Graphs and charts are present but they are not labeled or do not have captions.

Data analysis and interpretation of results is clear and accurate.

15 pts

 

 

Graphs and Charts are not clear and do not have labels or captions.  Data analysis and interpretation of results are clear and accurate.

10 pts

 

 

Graphs and charts are not clear do not have labels and captions.  Data analysis and interpretation of results are unclear or inaccurate.

5 pts

 

 

No graphs, charts, or illustrations that show the data taken.  Interpretation of results is weak.

0 pts

 

Conclusion & Discussion

States if the hypothesis is supported or rejected.  Discusses why the hypothesis is supported or rejected using the data analysis as evidence.  Discusses what the results mean and why they are important.  Discusses any problems that may have altered the results.  Suggests future questions for research on this topic.

20 pts

 

 

States if the hypothesis is supported or rejected, but does not use the data to explain.  Discusses what the results mean in an unclear manner.  Does not point out sources of error.  Gives questions for future studies.

15 pts

 

 

States if the hypothesis is supported or rejected, but does not use the data to explain. Does not discuss what the results means.  Does not point out sources of error, but does give questions for future studies.

10 pts

 

 

States if the hypothesis is supported or rejected, but does not use data to explain.  Does not discuss what the results mean.  Does not point out sources of errors or does not give future study questions.  Writing is unclear.

5 pts

 

 

Conclusion on hypothesis given, but very little discussion.  Sources of error and future study questions not valid.  Writing is unclear.

0 pts