Proposal Rubric
Name:________________________________ Grade :______________________
Components	Excellent
80-100%	Good
70%-79%	Acceptable
60%-69%	Needs Improvement
50%-59%	Fail
0%-49%	Comments	
Background information (introduction)	·	Pertinent sources from a variety of sources and research groups
·	Understanding  of the broader context
·	Information from sources leads to objectives 
·	Transitions well into objectives	·	Variety of sources, most are pertinent
·	Some pertinent research excluded
·	Broader context alluded to
·	Some logical steps to objectives left out
	·	Limited sources or information not pertinent
·	Missing major concepts from the literature
·	Broader context mentioned but not developed
·	Objectives hinted to but not addressed
	·	Used only one source or, no description or understanding of material from sources
·	Missing many important concepts from literature
·	Broader context ignored
·	Objectives do not follow logically from material discussed	·	Few or no outside sources
·	Incoherent paragraphs
·	Understanding of major concepts not clear
·	Little understanding demonstrated	·		
Objectives and/or Hypothesis	·	Clearly stated, precise, well defined
·	May be sophisticated and unique
·	Testable 
·	Logical based on introduction
·	Easily identified	·	Specific and clear
·	Some minor points not explained in intro
·	Some originality if applicable
·	Assumptions are made that should have been explained
·	Hypothesis is testable 
·	Identified within the text	·	General and not well defined
·	Not easily testable
·	Lacks originality (repeating questions already answered)
·	Hidden within the text
·	Some terms not defined	·	Vague; hard to define
·	Cannot be tested scientifically
·	Completely implicit within the text; not identifiable
·	Statements unclear
	·	No objectives or hypothesis present
·	Statements make no sense	·		
Experimental Methods and Timeline	·	Clearly stated, proven methods referenced properly
·	Reasonable timeline based on work and biology
·	Methods test hypothesis logically	·	Methods not clear but referenced
·	Methods clear but not referenced or untested
·	Methods provide information to test hypothesis
·	Timeline present but may be unreasonable 	·	Methods not clear and poorly referenced
·	Information from methods applies to hypothesis
·	Timeline illogical or difficult to follow
	·	Methods hard to understand; no clear progression of events
·	Methods not tied to hypothesis and do not address objectives
·	Timeline essentially absent	·	No distinct methods described
·	Unreasonable or fabricated methods
·	Methods listed not in context of paper	·		
Expected outcomes and interpretation of potential results	·	Addresses the objectives explicitly
·	Determines reasonable results
·	Identifies rational outcomes based on experimentation
·	Ties outcomes to similar results from other sources 
·	Includes properly labeled figures and tables if necessary	·	Outcomes are relevant to objectives
·	Outcomes either too grand or reserved
·	Results listed but not reasonable based on known biology 
·	May include figures and tables if necessary
	·	Objectives are addressed indirectly
·	Outcomes show lack of understanding of objectives or methodology
·	No clear results or results not likely from proposal	·	No reference to objectives
·	Outcomes poorly thought out and not directly tied to either methodology or objectives
·	Results are not possible from experimentation	·	Expected outcomes missing
·	No potential results discussed	·		
Summary and conclusions	·	Concisely addresses the concepts
·	Emphasizes uniqueness and strengths
	·	Concepts addressed
·	Reviews proposal with little emphasis	·	Concepts are slightly obfuscated
·	Simply reiterates the objective of the proposal	·	Concepts are unclear
·	Major points of proposal missing	·	Summary absent
·	Run-on review of the proposal	·		
Grammar and Style (applies to all categories listed above)	·	Written concisely primarily in active voice
·	Grammatically correct; complete sentences ;proper use of punctuation
·	Proper headings in report style
·		·	Some wordiness and a significant use of the passive voice, yet grammatically correct
·	Some grammar errors primarily in the use of punctuation
·	Over- use or under -use of headings
·	Figures and tables appropriately labeled	·	Written almost entirely in the passive voice;some grammatical mistakes;reader comprehension challenged but not compromised
·	A few grammatical errors and incomplete sentences; spelling mistakes.
·	Figures and tables labeled 	·	Sentence structure lacking; some grammatical mistakes that do not affect reader comprehension 
·	Needs revisions
·	Spelling mistakes present
·	Figures and tables not labeled sufficiently	·	Lack of revision and planning evident
·	Grammar inhibits comprehension of reader
·	Figures and tables not labeled	·