Economics Department

Writing Rubric


Good writing is obviously a crucial skill for academic success. It is also vital for career advancement. In surveys conducted over the past two decades, executives have consistently noted the importance of writing skills to worker productivity and advancement and yet employers today are still disappointed with the writing abilities of their employees, particularly their college graduates (Hansen and Hansen). Ironically, technology has made clear, effective writing more important than ever. Whether you are sharing business ideas with your boss over e-mail or rallying the public with a new web page to support an important social cause, clear prose and an elegant style will surely work in your favor.

The rubric below is first of all, something to think about. Better thinking makes for better writing. Then, put it to good use. It will be on the minds of your professors when they evaluate your written work. At the very least, it will serve as a warning: good writing is a process of knowing what it is you want to say, saying it clearly and effectively, knowing who you are talking to, making sure you did indeed say what you meant (revising), and ironing out all the mishaps (editing). In the midst of all this hard work--and good writing is hard work--you will quite possibly discover something new (about your topic, yourself, or even economics).

To be clear, good writing is crucial for success and it is hard work --it does not happen overnight!

Mechanics of Writing
Clarity of Content
Thesis Statement
Logical Development
Effective Use of Disciplinary Language
Accuracy of Evidence
Depth of Knowledge
Analysis of the Competing Ideas/Perspectives
Relevance
Synthesis
SUNY Cortland Department of Economics
This page was last modified Friday, 12 August 2005 at 02:05 UTC.