Information	Literacy and	Problem Solving	Scoring Guide
A Researcher or Problem Solver …	1 Unacceptable	2 Needs Improvement	3 Proficient	4 Advanced
1. Defines Topic/Problem/ and Task/ Starts Presearch 1.1 Understands the topic/ task/ problem/ requirement criteria 1.2 Uses presearch activities to explore and examine the general topic/problem and develop a vocabulary 1.3 Uses concept mapping, graphic organizers to categorize and assess prior knowledge and generate appropriate questions 1.4 Realizes the need for additional information 1.5 Uses decision making skills to develop a limited topic/focus	o Pays little attention o Begins a presearch reluctantly and needs assistance with activities and identifying vocabulary o Has little regard for what is already known and needs assistance o Lacks direction and shows little evidence o Needs assistance	o Shows a vague, unfocused understanding o Recognizes the benefits but needs assistance with activities, identifies vocabulary o Uses a graphic organizer, has difficulty categorizing knowledge and generating questions o Shows some need via questions and needs assistance o Needs some assistance	o Restates with understanding o Engages in presearch with minimal assistance and identifies a vocabulary o Records and categorizes what is already known and identifies questions o Understands importance of questions and continues research o Generates a few choices independently	o Articulates a clear comprehension o Engages independently in preliminary research and generates a vocabulary o Uses an appropriate graphic organizer/ concept map, categorizes knowledge, and generates research questions o Seeks independently additional information using generated questions o Develops independently a limited topic/focus
2. Sets Goals/Questions Develops Research Plan 2.1 Identifies and generates specific questions, decisions, issues, and problems 2.2 Defines or refines the essential question/thesis 2.3 Redefines the task/ problem, restates research assignment, end product and requirements 2.4 Develops a research plan	o Relies upon assistance o Relies upon assistance o Relies upon assistance o Relies upon assistance or has no plan	o Formulates factual questions and identifies issues, etc. with guidance o Defines with guidance o Redefines with guidance and restates criteria with a prompt to refer to handout o Develops a plan with guidance	o Formulates questions, independently and identifies issues/ problems with guidance o Develops with limited assistance o Redefines and restates criteria independently by referring to handout o Develops independently and requests some assistance	o Discovers independently an issue or problem o Formulates independently o Redefines and restates independently o Develops independently a research plan

A Researcher or Problem Solver …	1 Unacceptable	2 Needs Improvement	3 Proficient	4 Advanced
3. Researches and Gathers Information 3.1 Identifies subject headings, and keywords 3.2 Develops and utilizes appropriate search strategies to find relevant sources and information 3.3 Identifies a variety of types of resources, including primary and secondary sources 3.4 Selects/evaluates/ prioritizes sources for usefulness/quality 3.5 Engages with sources and information by reading, viewing, listening 3.5 Extracts relevant info for later consideration and takes notefacts in own words to avoid plagiarism/ uses quotes and documentation when necessary 3.7 Creates bibliographic records using MLA style	o Needs assistance o Uses a basic keyword search o Needs assistance with primary sources, electronic databases, print sources o Wanders from source to source without questioning o Needs assistance o Has difficulty and needs assistance, loses track of info o Creates reluctantly with assistance	o Identifies obvious words, needs assistance o Uses a subject search but needs assistance with word combinations for an advanced search o Identifies a variety with assistance, especially primary sources o Tries to evaluate and prioritize with mixed success o Engages with some guidance o Has some degree of success and needs some assistance, especially with rewording o Creates with some assistance	o Identifies words independently o Uses a subject search independently and with some assistance completes an advanced search o Identifies independently, at times seeks assistance o Selects, evaluates and prioritizes with usual success o Engages independently with some guidance o Completes process independently and requests some assistance o Creates independently with few errors or assistance	o Identifies word combinations independently o Completes independently subject and advanced searches o Identifies sources independently, including primary sources o Selects/evaluates/prioritizes a variety of high quality sources o Engages independently with success o Completes process independently o Creates independently
A Researcher or Problem Solver …	1 Unacceptable	2 Needs Improvement	3 Proficient	4 Advanced
4. Organizes/Interprets Synthesizes 4.1 Examines the information for usefulness and relevance 4.2 Chooses and uses an organizational technique to categorize and reorganize information/notes 4.3 Combines ideas and forms conclusions to prove a thesis, solve a problem 4.4 Adheres to copyright and fair use guidelines 4.5 Recognizes the need for more information	o Has difficulty and needs assistance o Leaves information as gathered o Has difficulty and needs much guidance o Disregards o Does not recognize the need	o Seeks assistance o Partially reorganizes info to show relationships and needs assistance to categorize o Interprets data, and forms conclusions with guidance o Usually o Recognizes missing information	o Identifies most useful relevant information o Uses an organizational method to reorganize information in a relevant and logical sequence o Interprets data/form solutions/conclusions with some assistance o Most often o Recognizes gaps