If you were the professor and were asked to evaluate

500 words

If you were the professor and were asked to evaluate a research paper, how would you approach the grading? What elements would you look at in a paper? Are some more important than others? What is the role of basic English writing skills versus demonstrating content knowledge about the topic? How would you evaluate a research paper?

There are many ways of grading. You can look at progress from where the student starts, you can grade on accuracy of the content, and you can try to assess lower level versus higher level critical thinking. You can evaluate logical threading, a strategic approach to the paper, the nature of the sources. You can think of the paper as the end product of a long research effort or you can approach it as if the one paper you are grading is just one of many in a long list that a student will be preparing in all the student's courses for the degree.

How would you do it? What is your philosophy?