Rails on Track Logo

Rubric for Annotated Bibliography 1st Year Writing Spring 2017


Attributes Proficient Developing Emerging Not Acceptable
Topical relationship of sources to question Both sources are clearly related to question. One source is clearly related to question; other is marginal. Both are only marginally/peripherally related to question. Neither source is adequately related to question.
Quality and authority of sources selected (encyclopedia articles were not to be used) Both sources appear reliable, authoritative and of good or high quality. One source appears reliable and of good quality and authority; the other is marginal. Both sources are of marginal quality and authority; or, one does not meet the requirements of the assignment. Both sources are of poor, unreliable, or indeterminate quality or do not meet the requirements of the assignment.
Identification & description of authority of sources Annotations fully, characterize author, audience and publisher of sources. Annotations accurately, but minimally, characterize author, audience and publisher of both sources. One, or both, annotations lack some important information or mischaracterize author, audience or publisher of sources. Annotations do not accurately describe author, audience or publisher of either source.
Quality & clarity of the summary of ideas in sources Main ideas of both sources, including nuances and subtleties, are clearly summarized. Main ideas of both sources are summarized, but minimally; or, one is incomplete or sketchy. Main ideas are not summarized clearly; or, summaries are simply incomplete or sketchy for both sources. Summaries appear to be possibly plagiarized or main ideas are unclear or misrepresented in both sources.
Representation & discussion of relationship of sources to each other Relationship of ideas in sources to each other clearly described. Attempt to relate ideas in sources to each other sometimes fuzzy or unclear. Attempt to relate ideas in sources to each other results in inaccurate representations of one or both. No attempt is made to relate sources to each other.
Representation & discussion of relationship of sources to research question Relationship of ideas in sources to the research question is clear and logical. Attempt to relate ideas in sources to the research question sometimes fuzzy or unclear. Attempt to relate ideas in sources to the research question misrepresents one or both sources or the research question. No attempt is made to relate sources to the current research question; nothing is said about the issue.
Accuracy of the citations Citations are complete and errors minor. Citations are mostly complete and errors minor. Citations are incomplete, errors numerous. Citations incomplete, errors are major and numerous.
Research strategies & tools Description of research strategies employed and tools consulted demonstrates superior skill and effort. Description of research strategies employed demonstrates awareness of research strategies and tool. Description of research strategies or employed very poor or obviously inaccurate. Strategy & tool not described.
Gail Gradowski & Jill Goodman-Gould
Santa Clara University