The Future of Energy: Guiding Decisions with Evidence

School of General Education

Assignment Rubrics

SC200: Discovering Science—Current Issues in a Changing World

You will find a detailed description of all Assignments/Projects under each of the units in the course.

Unit 2 Assignment Rubric Performance Elements Points

Category Criteria Expectation Earned Possible

Project Requirements

Application of scientific method (part 1)

Applies 5 steps of the scientific method (5-pts each step).

25

Scientific method used in logical sequence

9

Attention is applied to the creation of a concise and testable hypothesis (10 pts) and the subsequent steps to both test and analyze it (10 pts), clearly demonstrating the reflective nature of the scientific method (5 pts).

25

Terminology related to the scientific method is properly utilized throughout (5 pts), synthesizing the problem solving scenario with relevant steps (5 pts).

10

Organization, logic, details

Communication shows order, logic, and unification (4 pts); includes an introduction (3 pts), transitions throughout and a summative conclusion (3 pts), demonstrating a clear understanding of target concepts.

10

Writing Mechanics

Length Requirement

Length requirement met (1000 words minimum)

3

Spelling/ Grammar

Free of any spelling/grammatical/word choice errors

2

APA style references

Follows APA style for parenthetical/in- text citations and reference page and includes a minimum of 3 sources. Sources are scientifically valid (i.e., no Wikipedia).

3

APA format The body of the paper follows APA formatting guidelines including title page, spacing, font size, paragraph style and margins.

2

TOTAL POINTS 90

Unit 4 Assignment Rubric Performance Elements Points

Category Criteria Expectation Earne d

Possibl e

Project Requirements

Energy self assessment Describes minimum of 5 daily life situations including how each situation requires energy (2-pts each)

10

Origin of energy sources utilized and their renewable/nonrenewable status discussed

5

Renewable Energy Analysis

Includes analysis of the renewable energy source that would be most appropriate for their location.

10

Includes analysis of the renewable energy source that would be the least appropriate for their location.

10

Energy Source Comparison: Economic Costs/ Benefits and Ecological Impacts

Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of current energy sources including economic (costs/benefits) and ecological impacts.

10

Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the two renewable energy sources including economic (costs/benefits) and ecological impacts.

10

Minimum of 3 additional energy conservation techniques identified and described (5-pts each).

15

Organization, logic, details

Communication shows order, logic, and unification (4 pts); includes an introduction (3 pts), transitions throughout and a summative conclusion (3 pts), demonstrating a clear understanding of target concepts.

10

Writing Mechanics

Length Requirement Length requirement met (1000 words minimum)

3

Spelling/ Grammar Free of any spelling/grammatical/ word choice errors

2

APA style references

Follows APA style for parenthetical/in-text citations and reference page and includes a minimum of 5 sources. Sources are scientifically valid (i.e., no Wikipedia).

3

APA format Body of the paper follows APA formatting guidelines including title page, spacing, font size, paragraph style and margins.

2

TOTAL POINTS 90

Unit 6 Assignment Rubric Performance Elements Points

Category Criteria Expectation Earned Possible

Project Requirements

Meal analysis: source identification

Thoroughly identifies sources of ingredients of a meal containing a minimum of four components

15

Meal analysis: farming and labor practices

Farming and labor practices researched and discussed for all ingredients within meal

10

Meal analysis: packaging/ processing and shipping

Energy consumption necessary for packaging/ processing/ shipping of ingredients researched and discussed for all ingredients within meal

10

Economic and Ecological analysis of food choice

Traditional and locavore ingredient options discussed from the perspectives of ecological (5-pts) and economic (5-pts) impacts

10

Meal analysis: applying locavore concepts

Alternative sources for all meal ingredients identified to align with guidelines provided in project materials for research

15

Applying food choice to Think Globally, Act Locally

Analysis of how local food choices can have a global impact, citing specific examples from meal analysis, provided materials or additional research

10

Organization, logic, details

Communication shows order, logic, and unification (4 pts); includes an introduction (3 pts), transitions throughout and a summative conclusion (3 pts), demonstrating a clear understanding of target concepts.

10

Writing Mechanics Length Requirement

Length requirement met (1000 words minimum)

3

Spelling/ Grammar Free of any spelling/grammatical/ word choice errors

2

APA style references

Follows APA style for parenthetical/in-text citations and reference page and includes a minimum of 5 sources. Sources are scientifically valid (i.e., no Wikipedia).

3

APA format The body of the paper follows APA formatting guidelines including title page, spacing, font size, paragraph style and margins.

2

TOTAL POINTS 90

Unit 8 Assignment Rubric Performance Elements Points

Category Criteria Expectation Earned Possible

Project Requirements

Define terms Explains the difference between science and technology.

10

Select a biotechnology

Identifies and describes a biotechnology.

15

Scientific discovery Identifies and describes two scientific discoveries that needed to take place before the biotechnology could be developed.

15

Technological advances

Identifies and describes two technologies that needed to exist before the biotechnology could be developed.

15

Analyzing the pros and cons of biotechnology

Identifies and discusses two positives and two negatives of biotechnological advances. Discusses any limitations that should be put on advances in biotechnology

15

Organization, logic, details

Communication shows order, logic, and unification (4 pts); includes an introduction (3 pts), transitions throughout and a summative conclusion (3 pts), demonstrating a clear understanding of target concepts.

10

Writing Mechanics Length Requirement

Length requirement met (1000 words minimum)

3

Spelling/ Grammar Free of any spelling/grammatical/ word choice errors

2

APA style references

Follows APA style for parenthetical/in-text citations and reference page and includes a minimum of 5 sources. Sources are scientifically valid (i.e., no

3

Wikipedia).

APA format The body of the paper follows APA formatting guidelines including title page, spacing, font size, paragraph style and margins.

2

TOTAL POINTS 90

Unit 9 Assignment Rubric Performance Elements Points

Category Criteria Expectation Earned Possible

Project Requirements

Science in your personal and professional life (part 1)

Lists 4 different technologies used throughout the day

5

Discusses negative impacts of these technologies

10

Describes 1 scientific discovery that was necessary for modern life to be possible

5

Lists both negative and positive technologies developed based on this scientific discovery. Evaluates the overall positive or negative impact of the discovery

10

Science and technology in a multicultural world (part2)

Discusses one advantage and one disadvantage to the westernized high tech research approach to medical treatment

5

Discusses one advantage and one disadvantage to using traditional medicine as an approach to medical treatment

5

Discusses the advantages of combining some aspects of both approaches to improve medical care overall

10

Discusses the challenges associated with combining some aspects of both approaches to improve medical care overall

10

Organization, logic, details

Communication shows order, logic, and unification (4 pts); includes an introduction (3 pts), transitions throughout and a summative conclusion (3 pts), demonstrating a clear understanding of target

10

concepts.

Writing Mechanics

Length Requirement

Length requirement met (1000 words minimum)

3

Spelling/ Grammar

Free of any spelling/grammatical/ word choice errors

2

APA style references

Follows APA style for parenthetical/in- text citations and reference page and includes a minimum of 5 sources. Sources are scientifically valid (i.e., no Wikipedia).

3

APA format The body of the paper follows APA formatting guidelines including title page, spacing, font size, paragraph style and margins.

2

TOTAL POINTS 90