Scoring Guide for Multimodal Research Project
Total Possible Points: 100
Excellent: A-B+
SUBJECT • Demonstrates a full
understanding of the
KNOWLEDGE subject in sophisticated
language and explanations.
AND EVIDENCE • Uses specific passages and
information to fully and
15 convincingly support thesis.
ARGUMENT AND • Develops an interesting and
plausible argument about
KNOWLEDGE OF the subject, using scholarly
articles and multimedia to
SOURCES develop the argument.
• Argues with conviction a
20 clear idea of the argument’s
main ideas.
TEXT • Presents the text discussion
using the highest quality of
PRESENTATION rhetorical, grammatical, and
stylistic features.
AND • Provides a correct MLA
Works Cited.
CORRECTNESS
20
Good: B Satisfactory: C+-C
• Demonstrates
understanding in
language appropriate for
the audience and in clear
explanations.
• Uses numerous
passages and
information to support
the thesis.
• Develops a valid
argument about the
subject, using the
sources to support it.
• Argues a clear idea of
the argument and the
sources.
• Presents the text
discussion using good
rhetorical, grammatical,
and stylistic features.
• Provides an MLA Works
Cited with only minor
errors, such as in
punctuation.
Inadequate: D+-F
• Demonstrates partial • Attempts to
understanding in demonstrate an
mostly clear language. understanding in
• Uses a few passages to language that is not
support the thesis. always clear.
• Uses examples that fail
to support the thesis.
• Presents an argument • Discusses the subject
and vaguely connects without a clear
source information. connection to the
• Asserts an idea of the sources.
meaning of the • May suggest an idea of
sources. the meaning of the
sources.
• Presents the text • Presentation is marred
discussion in a by mechanical and
competent and grammatical errors
appropriate manner, and lacks a coherent
making only occasional style.
errors. • No MLA Works Cited
• Provides some provided.
bibliographical
information for
sources without
adhering to MLA Style.
 CHOICE OF • Contents create a distinct • Contents create an • An attempt was • Little or no attempt to
atmosphere or tone that atmosphere or tone made to use contents use contents to
MULTIMEDIA matches different parts of that matches some to create an create an
CONTENT the argument. parts of the argument. atmosphere/tone but appropriate
10 • The content may support • The content may it needed more work. atmosphere/tone.
or disagree with the support or disagree • Content choice is • Multimedia content
argument. with the argument. logical, but not well has no apparent
connected to the text relation to the
argument. argument.
ACADEMIC • Images and/or video is of • Images and/or video • An attempt was • Little or no attempt
the highest academic were of academic made to use images was made to
QUALITY OF quality for the topic of the quality to match the and/or video to match connect images
IMAGES OR argument. tone of the argument. the argument, but and/or video to the
VIDEO better choices could argument.
have been made.
5
COVER LETTER  Cover Letter: Write a letter, from you to me, single-spaced, of no more than 2 pages, that describes the process you went through
to arrive at your final draft. Discuss what worked and what didn't work, making specific reference to any included pieces in the
20 portfolio and to any other work done in the class that may have contributed to your writing. Finally, discuss what you may have
learned about yourself as a writer. I look forward to this letter as a good discussion of the composition of the paper I am about to
read. For me, it's like looking over your shoulder; for you it's an opportunity to find out about yourself as a writer. This letter carries a
lot of weight in the portfolio grade, because it often makes sense of something you did in the paper, allowing me to understand
mistakes as well as successes. Seeing that you understand what you have done allows me to be more forgiving of your mistakes.
The purpose of such description and analysis is for you to slow down and think about how you compose.
 Letter is evaluated on writer's ability to express writing process that led to final draft, ability to analyze development of writing
process and express insights about such development. Please use a letter format.

DRAFTS (OF TEXT  1st draft from peer reviews. This draft must indicate where you made revisions with highlighting and comments. Save the draft with
a good filename, like smithtextdraft1.doc.
COMPONENTS — Writer uses highlighting and marginal or intertextual comments to show revising choices. Shows willingness to take risks
ONLY) with early drafts.
10