| Question/GIS | There is not a driving question 0points | There is a driving question but it is not derived from using GIS 3points | There is a driving question that is loosely based on information gathered from GIS 5points | The driving question is satisfactory, but it is too broad or narrow of a topic. The question is derived from the use of GIS 7points | The driving question is written broad enough to be researched and narrow enough to be specific. It is excellently written and is derived from the use of GIS 10points |
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| Thesis/Position/Introduction | There is no thesis or introduction 0points | The thesis statement is neither succinct nor can it be proven 3points | The thesis is succinct, but cannot be proven 5points | The thesis can be proven, but it is not succinct 7points | The thesis is succinct and can be proven 10points |
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| Supporting Evidedence | There is no evidence to support the thesis 0points | The evidence and support for the thesis is incomplete 3points | There is a body of the research project, but it does not support or relate to the thesis statement 5points | The body of research supports the thesis statement, but it is not supported by evidence and cited sources 7points | The body of research is evidence based and supports the thesis statement 10points |
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| Conclusion | There is no conclusion 0points | The conclusion is incomplete and does not summarize the research or draw a conclusion. 3points | The conclusion does not support the research project 5points | The conclusion summarizes the research, but it does not support or refer to the thesis statement. 7points | The conclusion does summarize the research and draw conclusions based on the thesis statement 10points |
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| Organization of the Body of Research | Research is not organized using the research plan 0points | The project does not include 3 main ideas. 3points | 3 main ideas are presented in a logical order but do not include at least 3 key details 5points | The project includes 3 main ideas. Each main idea is supported by at least 3 key details. The information is NOT presented in a logical order. 7points | The project includes 3 main ideas. Each main idea is supported by at least 3 key details. The information is presented in a logical order. 10points |
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| Works Cited Page | No works cited page is present 0points | The works cited page contains 9-15 errors 3points | The works cited page contains 4-8 errors 5points | The works cited page contains 0-3 errors 7points | The works cited page follows all the rules of MLA formatting 10points |
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| Grammar/Mechanics | More than 15 problems with grammar and mechanics 0points | 11-15 problems with grammar and mechanics 3points | 7-10 problems with grammar and mechanics 5points | 4-6 problems with grammar and mechanics 7points | 0-3 problems with grammar and mechanics 10points |
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| Geographic Tools/ Map | A map or geographic tool is not used in the project 0points | A map is used for the project, but is unrelated to the thesis statement 3points | A map is a part of the project and on topic, but it is not specifically used to support the thesis statement 5points | A map or geographic tool is present, but not cited in the works cited page 7points | The map or geographic tool is used to support the thesis statement 10points |
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| Presentation - Visual | No visual presentation is prepared 0points | The project only covers a few of the important parts of the research project and has numerous flaws or errors in the visual presentation 3points | The project covers most of the important parts of the research project. 5points | The project covers all important parts of the research project but has 0-5 flaws or errors in the visual presentation 7points | The project is visually appealing and covers all important parts of the research project 10points |
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| Presentation - Oral | Presentation is not given to the class 0points | The oral presentation is difficult to follow, incomplete, or doesn’t contain a works cited page. 3points | The oral presentation is difficult to follow due to voice level or talking speed. 5points | The oral presentation is easy to understand and to follow. It is outside the 5-7 timeframe. 7points | The oral presentation is easy to understand and to follow. It meets the 5-7 minute timeframe 10points |
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