For Professor Ryan

Online Discussion Rubric

Criteria

Levels of Achievement

Excellent Very Good Good Adequate Marginal Inadequate

Analytic Reasoning & Evaluation

7 Points Asserts an insightful position and provides multiple sound reasons to justify it. Provides an analysis that reflects a thorough consideration of the complexity of the issue.

6.65 Points States a thoughtful position and provides multiple sound reasons to justify it. Provides an analysis that reflects some consideration of the complexity of the issue.

5.95 Points States a clear position and some sound reasons to support it. Provides some careful analysis, but it lacks consideration of the issue’s complexity.

5.25 Points States or implies a position and provides few reasons to support it. Provides some superficial analysis of the issue.

4.55 Points States or implies a position and provides vague or very few reasons to support it. Provides little analysis, and that analysis may reflect an oversimplification of the issue.

3.85 Points States an unclear position (if any) and fails to provide reasons to support it. Provides very little evidence of analysis. May not understand the issue.

Writing Effectiveness

2 Points Organizes response in a logically cohesive way that makes it very easy to follow the writer’s argument. Provides valid and comprehensive elaboration on each reason for the writer’s position.

1.9 Points Organizes response in a logically cohesive way that makes it fairly easy to follow the writer’s argument. Provides valid elaboration on each reason for the writer’s position.

1.7 Points Organizes response in a way that makes the writer’s argument and logic apparent but not obvious. Provides valid elaboration on reasons for the writer’s position several times.

1.5 Points Provides a limited or somewhat unclear argument. Presents relevant information, but that information is not woven into an argument. Provides valid elaboration on reasons for the writer’s position a few times.

1.3 Points Provides limited, invalid, overstated or very unclear argument. May undermine own points. Any elaboration on the reasons for the writer’s position tends to be vague, irrelevant, inaccurate, or unreliable.

1.1 Points Fails to develop a convincing argument. The writing may be disorganized and confusing. Fails to provide elaboration on reasons for the writer’s position.

Criteria

Levels of Achievement

Excellent Very Good Good Adequate Marginal Inadequate

Writing Mechanics

1 Point Demonstrates outstanding control of grammatical conventions. Consistently writes well-constructed, complex sentences with varied structure and length. Displays adept use of vocabulary that is precise, advance, and varied.

0.95 Points Demonstrates very good control of grammatical conventions. Consistently writes well-constructed sentences with varied structure and length. Uses varied and sometimes advanced vocabulary that effectively communicates ideas.

0.85Points Demonstrates good control of grammatical conventions with few errors. Writes well-constructed sentences with some varied structure and length. Uses vocabulary that clearly communicates ideas but lacks variety.

0.75 Points Demonstrates fair control of grammatical conventions with frequent minor errors. Writes sentences that read naturally but tend to have similar structure and length. Uses vocabulary that communicates ideas adequately but lacks variety. Errors in grammar, spelling, mechanics, and punctuation sometimes affect clarity.

0.65 Points Demonstrates poor control of grammatical conventions with frequent minor errors and some distracting errors. Consistently writes sentences with similar structure and length, and some may be difficult to understand. Uses simple vocabulary, and some vocabulary may be used inaccurately or in a way that makes meaning unclear. Errors in grammar, spelling, mechanics, and punctuation impede understanding.

0.55 Points Demonstrates minimal control of grammatical conventions with many errors that make the response difficult to read or provides insufficient vocabulary. Some vocabulary is used inaccurately or in a way that makes meaning unclear. Major sentence errors; 2 or more fragments and/or run-on sentences. Excessive mechanical errors.