Grading Criteria for Discussion Board Posts

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

• You must post at least three times a week. Your assignment and at least two responses to your colleagues posts.

• These three postings must occur on at least two different days to be considered for credit.

• No credit is given for just one post and your assignment must have been done to receive credit for the replies.

• If you chose to participate in extra credit your assignment must be done first with at least a passing grade.

An academic discussion board is not a BLOG. Sometimes it is difficult for students to realize the difference.

• Your assignments and replies must BE BASED ON CLASS CONCEPTS AND THEORY.

•  Your work must be cited. Each post should tell us where you got the information. 

  • For example if you say "the sun's temperature is 11000 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 learn together which sources are credible.
      
      

• Note: The discussion boards can also be used to have informal discussions with your classmates. You can ask questions of the class (please put the word "HELP" in the subject line), or to post something interesting you found in the community or the news. Don't confuse the two however. Informal postings will not be graded as a post.

 

• A grade of 10 is a perfect score. This would have to reflect a perfect posting and replies. Effort has everything to do with your grade. Don't expect that just because you answered the question and cited it you will receive full credit. Doing that is just average work or doing just what was required. For a perfect score you must be able to assesses statements and arguments, weigh opinions against facts, or think critically about the information. Show that you understand the materials.
  
• Accuracy:

1. Make sure you have  addressed all required questions/points in this assignment?
    

2. Check to make sure information is summarized or interpreted correctly.
    

3. Make sure the words are your own and not copied from other postings or the web? Don't ever 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 link). If you copy a colleague's work you will be dropped from the course. No exceptions so don't do it.
    

4. Is your writing academically appropriate? This class requires college level writing skills. Does your writing reflect critical thinking?
    

5. 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. 
    

6. 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.
    

7.  Late submissions are not accepted for any reason, ever. Please don't ask.
   

8. Is your work cited?

Response Credit

1. The intent is to relate to the weekly lesson topic.  Show that you understand the topic by adding facts, 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 a posting is not clear to you may ask for clarity in your posting so that you can post a coherent reply.  

Students must post their assignment with a passing grade to receive credit for responses.

No partial credit for just one response.  

Critical thinking:

1. Does your writing reflect critical thinking ( assesses statements and arguments, weighs opinions against facts, suspends judgment until all facts have been gathered and considered)?
    

2. 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.

3. When new facts are found are opinions adjusted accordingly?