Nonverbal Behavior Essay

Application Essay Rubric

Excellent Good Acceptable Unacceptable Score

Content

(40 points) (20 points) (17 points) (17 points) (27 points)

Criteria

The essay illustrates

exemplary understanding

of the course material by

thoroughly and correctly:

(1) addressing the relevant

content; (2) identifying

and explaining all of the

key concepts/ideas; (3)

using correct terminology;

(4) explaining the

reasoning behind key

points/claims; and (5)

(where necessary or

useful) substantiating

points with several

accurate and original

examples.

The essay illustrates

solid understanding of

the course material by

correctly: (1) addressing

most of the relevant

content; (2) identifying

and explaining most of

the key concepts/ideas;

(3) using correct

terminology; (4)

explaining the reasoning

behind most of the key

points/claims; and (5)

(where necessary or

useful) substantiating

some points with

accurate examples.

The essay illustrates

rudimentary understanding

of the course material by:

(1) mentioning, but not

fully explaining, the

relevant content; (2)

identifying some of the key

concepts/ideas (though

failing to fully or accurately

explain many of them); (3)

using terminology, though

sometimes inaccurately or

inappropriately; and (4)

incorporating some key

claims/points, but failing to

explain the reasoning

behind them (or doing so

inaccurately).

The essay illustrates poor

understanding of the

course material by (1)

failing to address or

incorrectly addressing the

relevant content; (2)

failing to identify or

inaccurately

explaining/defining key

concepts/ideas; (3)

ignoring or incorrectly

explaining key

points/claims and the

reasoning behind them;

and (4) incorrectly or

inappropriately using

terminology

Reasoning

(40 points) (20 points) (17 points) (17 points) (14 points)

Criteria

The essay reflects expert

reasoning by:

(1) synthesizing material;

(2) making connections

between relevant

ideas/claims/points; (3)

presenting an insightful

and thorough evaluation

of the relevant issue or

problem; (4) identifying

and discussing important

nuances in the relevant

material; and (5)

identifying and discussing

key assumptions and/or

implications.

The essay reflects fairly

strong reasoning by:

(1) synthesizing material,

(2) making appropriate

connections between

some of the key

ideas/claims/points; (3)

accurately evaluating the

issue/problem; and (4)

identifying ad discussing

key assumptions and/or

implications.

The essay reflects basic

reasoning by:

(1) synthesizing some of

the material, though

remains vague and

undeveloped; (2) making a

few connections between

ideas/claims/points, but

ignoring or inaccurately

connecting others; (3)

evaluating the

issue/problem at a very

basic/superficial level; and

(4) ignoring assumptions

and implications.

The essay reflects

substandard or poor

reasoning by: (1) failing to

synthesize the material or

doing so inaccurately; (2)

failing to make

connections between

ideas/claims/points or

doing so inaccurately; and

(3) failing to evaluate the

issue or problem.

Writing

(20 points) (10 points) (9 points) (8 points) (7 points)

Criteria

The essay is clear, and

concise as a result of: (1)

appropriate and precise

use of terminology; (2)

absence of tangents and

coherence of thoughts;

and (3) logical

organization of ideas and

thoughts. (4) complete

sentences, free of spelling

errors and uses correct

grammar, (5) follows

correct formatting style,

(6) falls between the

minimum and maximum

page requirement.

The essay is mostly clear

as a result of: (1)

appropriate use of

terminology and minimal

vagueness; (2) minimal

number of tangents and

lack of repetition; and (3)

fairly good organization

(4) complete sentences,

few spelling errors and

grammar mistakes, (5)

follows correct

formatting style with

minimal mistakes, (6)

falls between the

minimum and maximum

page requirement.

The essay is often unclear

and difficult to follow due

to: (1) some inappropriate

terminology and/or vague

language; (2) ideas

sometimes being

fragmented, wondering

and/or repetitive; and (3)

poor organization. (4)

incomplete sentences, has

spelling errors and uses

acceptable grammar, (5)

barely follows correct

formatting style, (6) does

not fall between the

minimum and maximum

page requirement.

The essay does not

communicate ideas/points

clearly due to: (1)

inappropriate use of

terminology and vague

language; (2) reliance on

disjointed and

incomprehensible

thoughts and clauses; and

(3) lack of recognizable

organization. (4) no

sentence structure, many

spelling errors and

unacceptable grammar, (5)

does not follow correct

formatting style, (6) does

not fall between the

minimum and maximum

page requirement.

TOTAL POINTS: