Rubric for Discussion Forums

Discussion Forums: Discussion forums are crucial in making this course interactive. You will be sharing your ideas and reading and responding to your peers and instructor's ideas. The rubric below show how the discussions will be graded. Please refer to your course schedule as to the due dates for each discussion. Keep in mind that you need to do an original post before Wednesday and then "Read and Respond" to two peers by Sunday night at midnight (Eastern). Stating simply that "I agree," or "I disagree," or "this is wrong" is unsatisfactory. Use examples, personal experience, and specific references from assigned material or outside reading to explain your response.

Note: The more involved you are in the discussion the more you will gain from the course and the more connected you will feel.

Criteria Excellent (3) Good (2) Fair (1) Poor (0)
Participation

  1. Posts an original discussion in the forum once per week by the specified due date.

  2. Responds to two other discussions in the forum once per week by the specified due date.

  1. Posts an original discussion in the forum once per week, occasionally past the specified due date without a valid excuse approved by the instructor.

  2. Responds to two other discussions in the forum once per week, occasionally past the specified due date without a valid excuse approved by the instructor.

  1. Does not post an original discussion in the forum.

  2. Occasionally responds to two other discussions in the forum, though falls below the weekly minimum requirement.

  1. Does not post an original discussion in the forum.

  2. Does not respond to other discussions in the forum.
Grammar and Structure

  1. Each post has proper spelling and grammar.

  2. Each post is one paragraph between 75 and 250 words in length, or longer.

  3. Each response to another discussion focuses on the question presented.

  1. Most posts have proper spelling in grammar with an occasional misspelling or poor use of grammar.

  2. Most posts are between 75 and 250 words in length, with an occasional post being fewer than 75 words.

  3. Most responses to another discussion focus on the question presented.

  1. Several posts have misspelled words and demonstrate a poor use of grammar.

  2. Several posts are fewer than 75 words in length.

  3. Several responses to other discussions do not consider the question presented.

  1. Most/all posts have misspelled words and demonstrate a poor use of grammar.

  2. Most/all posts are fewer than 75 words in length.

  3. Most/all responses to other discussions do not consider the question presented.
Criteria Excellent (14) Good (10) Fair (5) Poor (3)
Demonstrated Thinking

  1. Each original discussion gives evidence to critical reading and interaction with the assigned material.

  2. Responses to others acknowledge and make connections to the posts of others. Responses to others expand the discussion by using examples from reading, web research or personal experience as appropriate. Responses ask for clarification, affirm others, and ask thoughtful questions.

  1. Most original discussions give evidence to critical reading and interaction with the assigned material, though some posts demonstrate a surface understanding/reading of the material.

  2. Responses to others acknowledge and make connections to the posts of others. Responses expand the discussion by using examples from reading. Responses ask thoughtful questions.

  1. Few original discussions give evidence to critical reading and interaction with the assigned material with most posts demonstrating that the assigned material was skimmed or not read.

  2. Responses to others expand the discussion by using examples from reading, but have no connection or reference to what others have said.

  1. Original discussions give no evidence of critical reading or interaction with the assigned material.

  2. Responses to others give no evidence of connections to others or to the readings.