GROUP DEFENSE EVALUATION RUBRIC
Component Fully met (3)
Thesis overview Effectively and insightfully
develops a set of testable,
supportable and impactful
study hypotheses. In
general the document is
well organized and
maintains a tightly
integrated focus
throughout the
manuscript.
Justification for The introduction section
hypotheses provides a cogent overview
of conceptual and
theoretical issues related
to the study hypotheses.
Demonstrates outstanding
critical thinking.
Supporting evidence Provides clearly
appropriate evidence to
support position
Review of relevant Sophisticated integration,
research synthesis, and critique of
literature from related
fields. Places work within
larger context.
Maintains The proposal is well
purpose/focus organized and has a tight
and cohesive focus that is
integrated throughout the
document
Methodology Identifies appropriate
Met (2) Partially Met (1) Not met (0) Score
Develops a set of testable Develops hypotheses. Hypotheses are not
and supportable The manuscript lacks a testable or justifiable.
hypotheses. The clear organizational Focus of the
manuscript is nicely structure and cohesive manuscript is hard to
organized and the focus focus; some sections follow; lacks
of the manuscript is are clearly organized organizational
generally maintained and focused and structure.
throughout the others are not.
document.
The introduction section The proposal provides Very little support for
provides a logical weak support for study the conceptual and
overview of conceptual hypotheses. Provides theoretical relevant to
and theoretical issues some evidence of the study hypotheses
related to the study sound critical thinking. was provided. Provides
hypotheses. little evidence of sound
Demonstrates competent critical thinking.
critical thinking.
Provides adequate Provides inappropriate Provides little or no
evidence to support or insufficient evidence evidence to support
position to support position position
Provides a meaningful Fails to cite important Provides little or no
summary of the or relevant relevant scholarship.
literature. Shows scholarship.
understanding of relevant Misinterprets research
literature findings.
The proposal has an The proposal is The document lacks
organizational structure somewhat focused or focus or contains
and the focus is clear has minor drifts in the major drifts in focus
throughout. focus.
Identifies appropriate Identifies appropriate The methodologies
  Sample methodologies and
 Procedures research techniques (e.g.,
 Measures justifies the sample,
 Data analytic procedures, and
plan measures). Data analytic
plan is suitable to test
study hypotheses. Provides
appropriate justification
for controls. Project is
feasible
Results section The results clearly align
with study hypotheses and
the data analytic plan.
Tables are well integrated
and discussed in the
section. Controls and
preliminary analyses are
well explained and
justified. The statistical
results are discussed in a
sophisticated and accurate
way.
Discussion section Provides a sophisticated
integration of the findings
within the extant
literature. Clarifies how the
findings and research
hypotheses advance the
field. Addresses strengths,
weaknesses, and
limitations of the current
study accurately and
insightfully.
Grammar, clarity, and The manuscript is well
organization written and ideas are well
developed and explained.
Sentences and paragraphs
methodologies and methodologies and described are either
research techniques but research techniques not suited or poorly
some details are missing but many details are suited to test
or vague. missing or vague. The hypotheses. The
methodology is largely methodology is under-
incomplete. developed and/or is
not feasible.
The results discussed are The results section is The statistics used are
consistent with under developed. inappropriate to test
hypotheses and the data Results section is study hypotheses. Or,
analytic plan. Tables are incomplete in that results are discussed
somewhat integrated and tables are somewhat incorrectly or
discussed in the section. integrated, or inappropriately. There
Adequate justification of preliminary analyses is not a good
preliminary analyses and and statistical controls correspondence
statistical controls. The are not justified. between the tables
statistical results are Results are not always and the written
discussed adequately. described accurately. document.
Adequately integrates the The integration of the No integration of the
findings within the extant findings within the findings within the
literature. Addresses how extant literature is extant literature. Fails
the findings and research superficial or to attend to issues of
hypotheses advance the incomplete. Poorly generalizability or
field. Attends to issues of justifies the strengths, design strengths and
strengths, weaknesses, weaknesses, and weaknesses.
and limitations of the limitations of the
current study. current study.
The manuscript The manuscript The manuscript is
effectively communicates communicates ideas poorly written and
ideas. The writing is adequately. The confusing. Ideas are
grammatically correct, manuscript contains not communicated
 are grammatically correct. but some sections lack some grammatical effectively.
Uses subheadings clarity. errors. Many sections
appropriately. lack clarity.
References and Properly and explicitly Properly cited. May have The manuscript has The manuscript lacks
citations cited. Reference list a few instances in which several instances of proper citations or
matches citations proper citations are improper use of includes no citations.
missing. citations. Contains
several statements
without appropriately
citing.
Responsive to prior Highly responsive to Largely responsive to Somewhat responsive Highly unresponsive to
feedback previous feedback from previous feedback from to previous feedback previous feedback
faculty. Feedback is well faculty. Feedback is from faculty. from faculty.
integrated into the current somewhat integrated
document. into the current
document.
General recommendations for the thesis defense:
NAME:__________________________________

INDIVIDUAL ORAL DEFENSE CHECKLIST

Content

Does the student appropriately and effectively exhibit or use the following:

Components Yes (2) Sometimes (1) No (0) Total

Accurately answer questions
Clarifies concerns in written
document (if NA answer yes)
Recovers from anxiety
Demonstrates knowledge of the
content area
total

Presentation and delivery: Oral components

Does the student appropriately and effectively exhibit or use the following:

Components Yes (2) Sometimes (1) No (0) Total

Eye contact
Facial expressions
Gestures/movement
Appropriate word choice
Proper pronunciation
Vocal variety
Self-confidence
Professionalism
Enthusiasm
Timing/pace
total
Presentation and delivery: Visual components

Are the visual aids (Power point slides, handouts..)

Components Yes (2) Sometimes (1) No (0) Total

Well organized
Clear and readable
Free of mechanical and
grammatical errors
Relevant and meaningful
Appropriately cited
Enhance overall presentation
total

Overall total:______________