Grading Criteria for Discussion Board Posts

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Here are the primary criteria that will be used to evaluate your posts:

	For full credit (up to 5 points for assignments and up to 5 points for replies) students are expected to:
	Post at least three times a week (your assignment and at least two responses to your colleagues posts).
	Post on at least two different days
	Post the assignment to receive credit for the replies (no credit for just one reply -sorry)
	If you chose to participate in extra credit opportunities scattered throughout the course your assignment must be done first with at least a passing grade.
	COPYING AND PASTING ANYTING INCLUDING CHARTS OR GRAPHS WILL RESULT IN A ZERO GRADE. INSTEAD READ THE MATERIALS AND PUT THEM INTO YOUR OWN WORDS

The discussion boards are used not only to post your assignments and replies but you may also have informal discussion with your classmates .Don't confuse the two however. This is not a BLOG

This is an academic discussion board. Cite your work for superior grades. I am not looking for formal citing here. Just tell us, in the body of your work where we can find the materials if we want to read them and I usually do want to read them.

For example if you say "the sun's temperature is 27,000,000,000 degrees F" You need to tell us where you got that information. Remember the credibility of your sources is extremely important and will be reflected in your grade. We will do an assignment on creditability of sites that will help you. For now, know that Wikipedia is not an acceptable source in this class.

OTHER POINTS TO REMEMBER FOR A GOOD GRADE

BASE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS AND REPLIES ON CLASS CONCEPTS AND THEORY

A grade of 7 means you did just what the assignment asked for, nothing more. One can not expect that just because they answered the questions and cited them that they would receive full credit (10 points).

A grade of 10 is a perfect score. For a perfect score you must be able to either assess statements and arguments, weigh opinions against facts, or think critically about the information. Show that you understand the materials. Or you might show some additional research you did regarding the topic. Effort has everything to do with your grade.

ACCURACY:

Make sure you have addressed all required questions/points in this assignment?
Check to make sure information is summarized or interpreted correctly.
Make sure the words are your own and not copied from other postings or the web? DO NOT USE THE EXACT WORDING FROM THE INTERNET AS IF THEY WERE YOUR OWN. THIS IS PLAGIARIZING AND IS CONSIDERED DISHONEST (see plagiarizing policy at the syllabus). If you copy any part of a colleague's work you will be dropped from the course. No exceptions so don't do it.
Is your writing academically appropriate? This class requires college level writing skills. Does your writing reflect critical thinking?
Is your post composed of complete sentences? Written in an organized and coherent style? Remember: It is the writer’s job to make sure the message is clearly conveyed. It is not the reader’s job to try to decipher the main points of the text.
Keep in mind that quality and effort count more than quantity. A substantial full-length (100 words) paragraph is more intellectually productive than three paragraphs vague and redundant in content.
Late submissions are not accepted for any reason, ever. Please don't ask.

RESPONSE CREDIT

The intent is to relate to the weekly lesson or topic. Show that you understand the topic by adding facts or commenting on the theory or facts presented.

To do this you will need to process the materials, maybe do some research when you don't know something. Support what you are saying and cite your work. If an assignment or students comments are not clear to you, you may ask for clarity in your posting so that you can post a coherent reply.

Remember--Students must post their assignment with a passing grade to receive credit for responses. No partial credit for just one response.

CRITICAL THINKING

Does your writing reflect critical thinking ( assesses statements and arguments, weighs opinions against facts, suspends judgment until all facts have been gathered and considered)?
Do submissions provide credible evidence to support assumptions, beliefs and claims made? Remember the credibility of your sources is extremely important and will be reflected in your grade.
When new facts are found are opinions adjusted accordingly?

SUMMARY OF ABOVE

A grade of 7 means that the points were all answered but without references to class materials.
A grade of 8 means you answered all the questions with reference to class materials but no citations.
A grade of 9 has theory or materials and most was cited. You will be required to post at least three times each week--your assignment plus two replies.
A grade of 10 means all points were answered, with some critical thinking connecting them. Theory or class materials were there and all three posts were cited. That is a perfect score.
These three postings must occur on at least two different days to be considered for full credit. It does not matter how you break that up or example, you might post two replies one day and then come back and post your assignment on another day . Or post one assignment first then re ply to two colleagues on another day. You choose
You must post your assignment to receive credit for the replies
You must also post two replies to be considered for these points . No partial credit for one reply.
Your assignment must also receive a passing grade (more than 2 points )to be eligible for the reply points.
Total possible points are 10 each week.
Copying any or part of your weekly posting from any source without citations will result in your being dropped from this course with a grade of F.