Journal Critique Assignment Instructions Overview This course is heavily focused on the current issues and trends within special education with a specific focus on research. As such, this assignment

Criteria

Levels of Achievement

Content 70%

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Not Present

Structure and Organization

14 to 15 points

Critique contains all of the sections located in the example, explaining each clearly and separately: Research Questions, Experimental Design, Summary of Methods (3 individual parts), Results (2–4 parts), Commentary, and Reference citation.

13 points

The Journal Critique may not be organized according to the example but contains each of the required parts or information.

1 to 12 points

The Journal Critique is unorganized and may be missing two or more sections from the example.

0 points

Not present.

Summary

14 to 15 points

Assignment parameters are observed; focus is clear and coherent (good sense of audience); obvious understanding of the study; assertions are clearly supported and/or illustrated.

13 points

Assignment parameters may not be clearly observed at times; mostly focused (some sense of audience); thoughts organized and presented; assertions fairly well supported and/or illustrated.

1 to 12 points

Assignment can be described as two or more of the following: inadequate length; objectives of assignment not met; unfocused; little or no sense of audience; serious and persistent errors in organization and structure; lacks understanding of subject; disorganized; does not prove point, if one can be discerned.

0 points

Not present.

Research and Source

5 points

Journal article of original, experimental research selected from research journals of special education; all supportive facts are reported accurately and appropriately cited or paraphrased; the article that was chosen was published within the last 5 years.

4 points

Journal article (may not be original/experimental research) selected from research journals of special education; all supportive facts are reported accurately and appropriately cited or paraphrased; the article that was chosen was published within the last 10 years.

1 to 3 points

Journal article (did not contain original research) selected was not from a special education journal; and/or all supportive facts are not reported accurately or not appropriately cited or paraphrased; the article that was chosen is older than 10 years.

0 points

Not present.

Structure 30%

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Not present

Mechanics

10 points

Sentences are coherent, unified, and varied. Sentence structure is complete with correct spelling, punctuation, syntax, and capitalization. Uses varied diction and proper word choices. Submission is 1-2 pages.

9 points

Relatively few errors (1-3) in sentence fluency, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and capitalization. May use limited diction, awkward words, or slang. The errors above do not hinder readability. Submission is too long or too short.

1 to 8 points

Serious and persistent errors in: sentence fluency, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, usage, and word choice. Readability is hindered.

0 points

Not present.

Current APA

5 points

The use of current APA formatting standards is correct for in-text and final citations. All elements of current APA are met such as double spacing, and font style and size.

4 points

There may be 1-2 minor errors in the following: The use of current APA formatting standards, a title page and reference page are included and formatted correctly. All elements of current APA are met such as double spacing, and font style and size.

1 to 3 points

There may be 3 or more errors in the following: The use of current APA formatting standards, a title page and reference page are included and formatted correctly. All elements of current APA are met such as double spacing, and font style and size.

0 points

Not present.