Component	Unacceptable	Acceptable	Excellent
Introduction statement of purpose need, relevance, importance overview of project	no statement or vague statement of purpose, need, or overview	purpose, need, and overview available but not clearly or succinctly stated	purpose, need and overview clearly stated, organized, and interrelated
Background & Lit Review background on the situation, problem, technique, or concepts identification and detailed review of the key concepts to be included in the model discussion of issues related to concepts	background missing, vague, inconsistent, gaps, or rambling concepts not identified or defined well issues not stated or unclear	background stated clearly but not in sufficient detail or argument; needs evidence, details and more continuity key concepts identified and defined issues stated clearly with  sides developed (if needed)	well organized, supported, and stated background key concepts clearly defined and related resolution to issue or statement of position on issues
Model construction (may be integration of two or more models, or original formulation of model based on separate elements) statement of key components of model description of relationships among components graphic or mathematical model to supplement textual explanation explanation how model works	key components not identified components not clearly related to each other and relationships not explained no supplementary model	key components identified and defined but still unclear or not operational components clearly related to each other and relationships explained simplistic but available graphic model	key components very clear, defined and operational components and relationships clearly described graphic model is good representation of components and relations presented in text complete model well integrated and explained (perhaps with examples or case)
Discussion explanation of utility of model-- how it adds value than its components or predecessors provide separately how it could be used, applied, implemented suggestions for further research, how it could be validated conclusions	no explanation of utility, use, value little or no example of application or extension little or no consideration of heuristic value conclusions lacking or are not justified with presented explanation	general consideration of utility or one example general examples of application or one example general suggestions for research or one example conclusions based on evidence and argument presented	clear statement of utility with more than one example specific applications with more than one example specific recommendations for research with more than one example clear conclusions based on summaries of evidence and arguments consistent with and related to background chapter
References level of authority thoroughness of coverage	low authority: web sites, old texts, personal communication, popular magazines biased or limited sources	online journal web sites, old but relevant texts, expert personal communication,  high quality journals; some secondary sources multiple balanced and credible sources	preponderance of high quality journals and authoritative resources large number of multiple balanced and credible sources, preferably a large number