Doctoral Thesis Rubric

Doctoral Thesis Rubric

Department of English, University of Virginia
Doctoral Dissertation Assessment (for internal procedure-assessment purposes)
The director and each reader should complete a separate copy of this sheet, by supplying very basic information below and assigning a score—1, 2, or 3—to the right of each section, four sections in all.
Field of dissertation:
Date of defense:
Please circle the term that identifies your role in relation to the dissertation:
Director    1st reader    2nd reader    (3rd reader)    Outside reader
Central arguments and theoretical underpinnings: Grade 1 = Well-defined argument and challenging thesis. Very sound theoretical underpinnings   Central arguments and theoretical underpinnings: Grade 2 = Acceptable argument and thesis. Reasonable theoretical underpinnings   Central arguments and theoretical underpinnings: Grade 3 = Argument, thesis, or theoretical underpinning badly flawed.   Central arguments grade:  
 
Contributions to the field: Grade 1 = Original and important contribution to the relevant sub-field(s)   Contributions to the field: Grade 2 = Sufficient acknowledgement and/or implied awareness of relevant sub-field(s).   Contributions to the field: Grade 3 = Not sufficiently in conversation with relevant sub-field(s)   Contributions to the field grade:  
 
Quality of writing and other elements of execution: Grade 1 = Impressive writing and overall execution   Quality of writing and other elements of execution: Grade 2 = Satisfactory writing and overall execution   Quality of writing and other elements of execution: Grade 3 = Unsatisfactory writing or overall execution   Qual. of writing and execution grade:  
 
            Overall thesis grade (1-3):