Writing Center
Youngstown State University

A Guide for Evaluating Research Papers

1. Content

• Is clear and independent thinking demonstrated within the paper? Are the main ideas within the paper original, or do they seem to be borrowed from the writer's sources?
• Does the writer have a clear purpose or thesis? Does that thesis remain the focal point of the paper, or does the paper seem to wander from point to point?
• Are all the ideas completely developed? Is the subject explored fully and in-depth enough to convey that the author has thought out her/his subject in its entirety?
• Is there enough supporting information? Is the supporting information specific and obviously not common knowledge?

2. Evidence

• Does the evidence come from valid sources? That is, are the sources written by reputable authors and published by reputable companies or organizations rather than obscure ones?
• Is the evidence appropriate to the argument being presented? Does the evidence included clearly further the development of the paper's thesis?
• Are all quotes properly introduced and worked smoothly into the text?
• Is all evidence pulled from a source and all evidence that is not common knowledge correctly cited within the text? Are those citations correctly documented in a bibliography or works cited page?

3. Organization

• Is the paper organized in the most effective way possible? (Are there places where organization changes might have been beneficial obvious to the reader?) Is reading made difficult by the organization?
• Are the most important points given the most emphasis? Are lesser points, accordingly, given less emphasis? Are there any places where major points get too little attention and minor points too much?
• Is the paper coherently organized and linked together? Are transitions from paragraph to paragraph and from point to point smooth?
• Is each paragraph and point fully developed?

4. Style

• Has the audience been taken into account? Does the writer seem to be addressing his/her audience with the appropriate tone, purpose, etc.?
• Are sentences varied in length and style? Does the writer avoid being too choppy and short or too long and confusing?
• Is the vocabulary used original and precise or is it vague and overused?

5. Grammar and Mechanics

• Does the paper seem carefully edited? Does it seem as though it was not edited or edited very little?
• Do errors in punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, or grammar detract attention from the main point of the paper?

E-mail your comments and suggestions to the YSU Grant Team (cardcat@bgnet.bgsu.edu).