papers reflection
Discussion Board Reflections Instructions
As researchers have conclusively been showing, much of the learning takes place in the interactions between students; therefore, 60% of your final grade will be coming from participation in your posted reflections and responses based on our Discussion Board topics.
Each of your Discussion Board topic reflection posting is expected to be treated like a mini paper in which the 300 level course writing mastery will be shown. By “300 level course writing mastery” I mean that the writing you do in response to the given topic should be based on a combination of understandings and insights derived from a critical reading of and reflection upon the assigned material (articles and videos), as well as upon your own personal and professional experiences. I encourage you to write from your experiences, to foreground your own voice, but only in the service of enlivening your scholarly analysis. I expect you to use APA latest format for your cited “data” (in-text and as reference!). In your “data” you will refer to 2 outside sources (outside sources = materials you'll research on your own – these sources have not been provided by our class) and 2 inside sources (inside sources = material provided to you in this class: videos, journal articles, etc), in addition to your critical narration about your own experiences and insights.
The rule of thumb for our reflections should be 500-1000 word count (the equivalent of 2-4 pages, double spaced) in Word.doc. However, when you do your postings please do not attach any documents under your thread. Use copy/paste function to add your text into the BeachBoard (any attached document into Discussion Board assigned reflections will be dismissed!). Make sure to post your reflection on time as indicated in our class schedule; late posted reflections will have penalty of deducted points!
When you respond to one of your classmate’s reflection, a response such as “I agree” or “I disagree” really is not going to get the job done. The War and Peace version of writing, is not going to do it either! I expect academic level of sophistication when decide to respond to your classmate’s reflection. Inappropriate content will have consequences. If you even think that something you have to say will be offensive to someone else in the class, send an email first to pass it by me. I don’t want to stifle your creative ideas, but disrespectful comments are counter-productive.
You are strongly encouraged to use as guideline in developing your reflections/responses our grading rubric pertaining to this type assignment (see below!). And one last thought, please be aware of netiquette rules and our campus policy with regards to plagiarism!
Discussion Board Assignments (Reflections/Responses) – Grading Rubrics are given below:
Criteria Exemplary Very Good Meets Minimum Below
Minimum Unsatisfactory
35 points 30 points 25 points 20 points 15 points
Reflection Quality
Thoughtful and complete reflection addressing how the subject matter is relevant in life, and also shows a connection to other class materials.
Thoughtful and mostly complete reflection addressing some issues on how the subject matter is relevant in life, and may contain connections to other class materials.
Fairly thoughtful and somewhat complete reflection addressing some issues on how the subject matter is relevant in life, and may contain connections to other class materials.
Limited thoughtfulness and partially complete reflection addressing a few issues on how the subject matter is relevant in life, and does not contain any connections to other class materials.
Reflection does not thoughtfully address the issues, and does not contain any connections to other class materials.
4 points 3 points 2 points 1 points 0 points
Outside Resources
Reflection cites at least 2 resources from outside resources that are relevant.
Reflection cites at least 1 resource from outside resources that are relevant.
Reflection refers to, but does not cite at least one relevant outside resource.
Reflection may mention a relevant outside resource.
Reflection does not refer to nor cite a relevant outside resource.
1 points 1 points 0.5 points 0 points 0 points
Reflection Grammar
No grammatical errors.
Very few grammatical errors.
A few grammatical errors.
Several grammatical errors.
Unsure of which language has been utilized.
9 points 7 points 5 points 3 points 1 points
Response Quality
Thoughtful and complete response expanding on, or offering an alternative to a classmate's reflection.
Thoughtful and mostly complete response expanding on, or offering an alternative to a classmate's reflection.
Fairly thoughtful but incomplete response that may expand on, or offer an alternative to a classmate's reflection.
Limited response to a classmate's reflection.
Response does not further the conversation.
1 points 1 points 0.5 points 0 points 0 points
Grading rubric used for Transcendent Man Discussion Board reflections/responses is given below:
Response Grammar
No grammatical errors.
Very few grammatical errors.
Some obvious grammatical errors.
Several grammatical errors.
Unsure of which language has been utilized.
Overall Score
Exemplary 43 or more
Very Good 34 or more
Meets Minimum
24 or more
Below Minimum
17 or more Unsatisfactory
0 or more
Criteria Exemplary Very Good Meets Minimum Below Minimum Unsatisfactory
15 points 12 points 10 points 8 points 0 points
Reflection Quality
Thoughtful and complete reflection addressing how the subject matter is relevant in life, and also shows a connection to other class materials.
Thoughtful and mostly complete reflection addressing some issues on how the subject matter is relevant in life, and may contain connections to other class materials.
Fairly thoughtful and somewhat complete reflection addressing some issues on how the subject matter is relevant in life, and may contain connections to other class materials.
Limited thoughtfulness and partially complete reflection addressing a few issues on how the subject matter is relevant in life, and does not contain any connections to other class materials.
Reflection does not thoughtfully address the issues, and does not contain any connections to other class materials.
4 points 3 points 2 points 1 points 0 points
Outside Resources
Reflection cites at least 2 resources from outside resources that are relevant.
Reflection cites at least 1 resource from outside resources that are relevant.
Reflection refers to, but does not cite at least one relevant outside resource.
Reflection may mention a relevant outside resource.
Reflection does not refer to nor cite a relevant outside resource.
1 points 1 points 0.5 points 0 points 0 points
Reflection Grammar
No grammatical errors.
Very few grammatical errors.
A few grammatical errors.
Several grammatical errors.
Unsure of which language has been utilized.
4 points 3 points 2 points 1 points 0 points
Response Quality
Thoughtful and complete response expanding on, or offering an alternative to a classmate's reflection.
Thoughtful and mostly complete response expanding on, or offering an alternative to a classmate's reflection.
Fairly thoughtful but incomplete response that may expand on, or offer an alternative to a classmate's reflection.
Limited response to a classmate's reflection.
Response does not further the conversation.
1 points 1 points 0.5 points 0 points 0 points
Response Grammar
No grammatical errors.
Very few grammatical errors.
Some obvious grammatical errors.
Several grammatical errors.
Unsure of which language has been utilized.
Overall Score
Exemplary 21 or more
Very Good 16-20
Meets Minimum 11-15
Below Minimum 1-10
Unsatisfactory 0