CATEGORY

Expert

Professional

Amateur

Uninformed

Contribution to the Conversation

Contribution clearly relates to important aspects of the conversation as it unfolds, i.e.evidence the writer considered a substantial number of classmates' postings. Work includes supporting details or provocative questions to extend the discussion.

Contribution relates to some aspects of the conversation as it unfolds, i.e.,evidence the writer considered several classmates' postings. Work includes supporting details or questions to further the discussion.

Contribution relates to some aspects of the unfolding conversation. Few examples are given. No attempt made to extend the conversation.

Contribution has little or nothing to do with the classroom conversation that is unfolding.

Evidence of Expertise

Writing demonstrates command of the relevant professional literature beyond that which was assigned and draws on that knowledge to offer supporting details and/or examples. May also draw on rich, relevant personal experience.

Writing demonstrates knowledge of secondary and web resources beyond the assigned reading. Draws on that knowledge, along with relevant personal experience to offer supporting details and/or examples.

Writing demonstrates knowledge of the assigned reading. Contribution draws on the reading, along with personal experience to offer supporting details and/or examples.

Writing fails to demonstrate any knowledge of required reading, instead relying solely on one's own opinion and personal experience to offer supporting details and/or examples.

Quality of Writing

Writing is clearly organized with a thesis statement and carefully written paragraphs (introductory sentence, explanations or details, and concluding sentence) in support of that thesis.

Writing is clearly organized with a clear point. Most paragraphs are carefully written (introductory sentence, explanations or details, and concluding sentence) and contribute to the purpose

Writing lacks organization, but manages to convey the intended message. Paragraphs are disorganized, but coherent.

Writing lacks organization and a message.

Citations

Writer attributes ideas to others as appropriate and includes sufficient relevant details and information to allow readers to locate sources.

Writer attributes ideas to others as appropriate and attempts to include relevant details and information to allow readers to locate sources.

Writer attributes ideas to others as appropriate, but fails to include sufficient citation information to allow readers to locate the source.

Writer fails to attribute ideas to others as appropriate.

Mechanics

No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.

Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors

A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.

A distracting number of grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.