Identifies & Explains Issues | Clearly identifies main problem and successfully explains it for a naive audience 3 pts | Identifies main problem and attempts to explain it 2 pts | Identifies main problem but does not explain it sufficiently 1 pts | Fails to identify main problem 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Proposes Credible Solution | Offers a credible solution and persuasively argues for it 4 pts | Offers a plausible solution and attempts to argue for it 3 pts | Offers a plausible solution 2 pts | Offers a vague or implausible solution 1 pts | Fails to offer a solution 0 pts |
| 4 pts |
Examples | Offers plentiful novel examples 3 pts | Offers examples, mostly from course materials 2 pts | Insufficiently offers examples 1 pts | Fails to offer examples 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Evidence | Offers plentiful evidence from course materials and from outside sources 3 pts | Offers evidence mostly from course materials 2 pts | Insufficiently offers evidence and/or neglects course materials 1 pts | Fails to offer evidence 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Credible Sources | Uses several credible sources, including course materials 3 pts | Uses course materials 2 pts | Relies too heavily on non-credible sources and/or neglects course materials 1 pts | Fails to use sources 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Identifying Sources | Cites and gives full references for every source used 3 pts | Cites every source, but does so inadequately 2 pts | Fails to cite every source 1 pts | Fails to cite sources or fails to use sources 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Conclusions from Evidence | Draws conclusions from evidence and clearly justifies conclusions 3 pts | Draws conclusions from evidence but insufficiently justifies conclusions 2 pts | Draws conclusions from evidence but fails to justify conclusions or draws too few conclusions from evidence 1 pts | Fails to draw conclusions from evidence 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Applying Terminology | Correctly uses all appropriate terminology. 3 pts | Correctly uses most appropriate terminology. 2 pts | Incorrectly uses appropriate terminology or insufficiently uses appropriate terminology 1 pts | Fails to use appropriate terminology 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Applying Concepts, Theories, and Approaches | Applies all relevant concepts, theories, or approaches discussed in course materials 3 pts | Applies most relevant concepts, theories, or approaches discussed in course materials 2 pts | Applies some relevant concepts, theories, or approaches discussed in course materials 1 pts | Fails to apply relevant concepts, theories, or approaches discussed in course materials 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Explaining Concepts, Theories, and Approaches | Clearly explains concepts, theories, or approaches discussed in course materials to a naive audience 3 pts | Attempts to explain concepts, theories, or approaches discussed in course materials to a naive audience 2 pts | Incorrectly explains concepts, theories, or approaches discussed in course materials 1 pts | Fails to explain concepts, theories, or approaches discussed in course materials 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Notation | Correctly indicates where words or passages are mentioned, not used 4 pts | Attempts to indicate where words or passages are mentioned, not used, but makes some minor mistakes or omissions 3 pts | Attempts to indicate where words or passages are mentioned, not used, but makes signficant mistakes or omissions 2 pts | Attempts to indicate where words or passages are mentioned, not used, but does so incorrectly 1 pts | Fails to indicate where words or passages are mentioned, not used; or fails to give any examples 0 pts |
| 4 pts |
Explaining Terminology | Clearly explains all appropriate terminology for a naive audience. 3 pts | Attempts to explain all appropriate terminology. 2 pts | Attempts to explain some appropriate terminology. 1 pts | Neglects to use and/or to explain appropriate terminology 0 pts |
| 3 pts |
Total |