RUBRIC FOR WRITING ANALYTICAL SUMMARIES OF PRIMARY ARTICLES

OBJECTIVES Minimal Better Better Better Even better
Question/Rationale *Quotes or paraphrases the title of the paper with no further explanation. *States the question in one’s own words. No further explanation. *States the question in one’s own words.

*Summarizes or paraphrases several points made in the introduction to explain why the question was worth asking.
*States the question in one’s own words.

*Points out particular findings from earlier studies and what was either missing or what conflicts existed that provided a basis for this study.

*States the question in one’s own words.

*Points out particular findings from earlier studies and what was either missing or what conflicts existed that provided a basis for this study. *Mentions some citations and what the bibliography suggests about the nature of these citations (type of publication, topic, age, etc.)

Experimental design *Paraphrases or quotes some of the methods. *Describes the methods but doesn’t give an overall description of the experimental design.

*States briefly the overall design of the study.

*Points out key elements of the experimental design.

*States briefly the overall design of the study and how the design does or does not seem like an effective way to answer the question posed.

*Explains how some elements of the experimental design provide controls.

*At the end of the summary includes a paragraph that points out strengths and weaknesses of experimental design.
*States briefly the overall design of the study and how the design does or does not seem like an effective way to answer the question posed.

*Explains which elements of the experimental design provide controls.

*Integrates into the descriptions assessments of the value and limitations of the experimental design and how it might have been improved.

*Addresses importance of or limitations of certain methods, techniques, or instrumentation used.
Results

*Doesn’t mention results;

*Reports only the authors’ conclusions.

*Paraphrases results reported in the text. *States briefly the overall design of the study.

*Points out key elements of the experimental design.

* Shows data in tables or graphs.

* Describes tables and graphs in detail pointing out particular pieces of data that demonstrate points of interest.

* Shows data in tables or graphs.

* Describes tables and graphs in detail pointing out particular pieces of data that demonstrate points of interest.

*Explains in one’s own words how the statistical analyses contribute to an understanding of the data.

*Use actual numbers.

* Shows data in tables or graphs.

* Re-examines data presented in tables and graphs to see if the authors mentioned all possible interpretations.

*Explains in one’s own words how the statistical analyses contribute to an understanding of the data (or not). Use actual numbers.

*Presents alternative ways of examining the data.
Conclusion * Quotes or paraphrases conclusions drawn by authors.       *Summarizes the authors’ conclusions and explains the degree to which they are supported by the results and the experimental design.

*Points out other possible conclusions that are not eliminated by the study.

*Suggests a question for follow-up and an experimental design to address that question.
Voice/citations *Does not indicate in the text which information was drawn from the work of others. *Puts citations only at the end of paragraphs.

*Uses quotes from sources or paraphrases extensively.

*Integrates citations into sentences as appropriate.

*Uses own voice to describe the work of others and comment on it.

*Integrates citations into sentences as appropriate.

*Uses own voice to describe the work of others and comment on it.

*Uses topic sentences and commentary or transition sentences to set information from the sources into the argument or framwork presented by the writer.
*Integrates citations into sentences as appropriate.
*Writer uses her/his own voice to describe the work of others and comment on it.

*Uses topic sentences and commentary or transition sentences to set information from the sources into the argument or framwork presented by the writer.

*Clear analytical voice is apparent throughout, from setting out the rationale of the study to providing ideas for further study.

No one should expect to write an article analysis for the first time and achieve the goals described in the right hand boxes for all the objectives.
And it’s unlikely that any of you will be writing at the “minimal” level for most of your report.