Annotation Rubric - grading guideline

score
10    Annotations appear throughout the article-higlightes, notes in the margin, and abbreviation--that show evidence of the student's thinking.  Thinking can include but goes beyond mere article summary, paraphrases of what the author says, but also includes positive and/or negative reactions to the article's message and connections between the article's thoughts and personal schema or previously learned material.  Definitions of unfamiliar words are recorded.  Questions are asked and answers to these questions attempted.  Evidence that could be used to answer the prompt is clearly marked, including evidence that could be used to address the counterargument.

9     The article is adequately annotated, but with fewer comments than a ten.  The comments show that the article has been carefully read and understood, but without as much depth and insight as the ten.

8     The article is moderately annotated.  Notes in the margin indicate that the student understood the author's thoughts, but only on the surface.  He or she does not make many inferences and connections, does not ask or answer questions, or does not personally respond to the article's arguments.  Some unknown terms may be defined, but not as many nor as thoroughly as necessary.

7     Few annotations appear throughout the story and those that do are superficial, such as exclamation poits or smiley faces.  The student has not stopped to think and record thoughts about the article's perspective.  No terms are defined.  No connections to personal experience or to other research are made.  Teh article must be re-read and re-annotated. 

6     Only one or two superficial annotations on each page.  Article must be re-read and re-annotated. 

(From Writing Research Papers - Lesha Myers)