M.F.A. Thesis Rubric

N/A / 4 - Outstanding / 3 - Very Good / 2 - Acceptable / 1 - Unacceptable
Plot/Structure/Idea/Focus / ► Significant and Innovative plot/structure/ idea/ focus. Clearly places plot/ structure/ idea/focus in context. / ► Plot/structure/idea/focus is original but not ground-breaking. Provides adequate context for plot/ structure/ idea/focus. / ► Nature or originality of plot/structure/idea/focus unclear. Plot/structure/ idea/ focus is poorly contextualized. / ► Plot/structure/idea/focus is absent, trivial, or unoriginal. Does not contextualize plot/ structure/idea/focus.
Grounding in Literary Traditions / ► Exhaustive knowledge of traditions. Clear/flexible vision of the creative work in relation to literary traditions. / ► Comprehensive but not exhaustive knowledge. Solid idea of traditions in relation to the author’s work. / ► Adequate knowledge of traditions (but far from comprehensive). Vague idea of how work fits into a larger context. / ► Incomplete, inadequate. Lacks understanding of literary context and traditions.
Creative Approach / ► Thoroughly understands poetics and/or aesthetic approach. Applies aesthetic approach consistently. / ► Competency in poetics/aesthetic approach. Applies aesthetic approach somewhat consistently. / ► Marginal understanding of poetics/aesthetic approach. Applies aesthetic approach inconsistently. / ► Poetics and/or aesthetic approach is misunderstood. Does not apply poetics/ aesthetic approach appropriately.
Thematic/Aesthetic Unity / ► Original and sophisticated creative work. Demonstrates thematic and/or aesthetic unity. / ► Inventive, sophisticated, and complex (if not wholly original) creative work. Work demonstrates adequate thematic and/or aesthetic unity. / ► Well-written and interesting, but not wholly original in complex ways. Work inadequately coheres. / ► Creative work lacks imagination (in structure as well as content). Project seems confused, lacks coherence, movement, narrative arc, thematic unity.
Overall / ► Meets all or most of the qualities in the column above. / ► Meets all or most of the qualities in the column above. / ► Meets all or most of the qualities in the column above. / ► Meets all or most of the qualities in the column above.

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