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.