Check the Course Schedule for discussion topics, requirements, and due dates. The criteria below will determine your discussion score.
If the discussion requires you to submit a written summary, these criteria will apply to your summary and determine 50% of your total discussion score:
Summary Criteria | Proficient (A/B) | Adequate (B) | Needs Improvement (D/F) |
|---|---|---|---|
Summary introduces article title and author | | | |
Summary introduces relevant information about when and where the original text was published | | | |
Summary identifies the original text’s thesis and/or main idea | | | |
Summary includes enough support for thesis/main idea without being as detailed as a paraphrase | | | |
Summary is objective; the only opinions or claims included are the author’s | | | |
Summary meets minimum length listed in assignment requirements or is approximately 1/3 the original text’s length | | | |
Summary is written in third-person point of view | | | |
Summary includes attributions | | | |
Summary includes correct MLA in-text citations if the original text’s pages are numbered | | | |
Tips:
Quoting the original text in your summary is not required, but if you include quotes, make sure they are
chosen appropriately (see course materials on quoting for guidance)
very short
“sandwiched” (see course materials for an explanation)
include attributions, quotation marks, and correct MLA in-text citations.
To decide whether you’ve included enough support for the original text’s thesis/main idea in your summary, ask yourself, “What do readers need to know to fully understand the main idea?” (What readers need to know might include definitions, explanations, examples, or evidence.) The answer to that question should appear in your summary.
If the in-class discussion requires a written summary, the criteria below will apply to your discussion participation and make up 50% of your total discussion score.
If the in-class discussion does not require a written summary, the following criteria will apply to your discussion participation and comprise 100% of your total discussion score.
Synchronous Discussion Participation | Proficient (A/B) | Adequate (C) | Needs Improvement (D/F) |
|---|---|---|---|
Attended class on discussion day (or, if absent, made arrangements with the instructor to complete makeup work for the discussion) | | | |
Prepared for discussion by completing assigned reading and other work (e.g., summary) before class and by bringing to class notes or an annotated copy of assigned reading | | | |
Demonstrated active listening by making eye contact with the speaker and avoiding distractions such as electronic devices, non-class-related materials, or side conversations | | | |
Moved the discussion forward by
| | | |
Prioritized quality of contributions over quantity | | | |
Demonstrated open-mindedness to new or opposing ideas and respect for classmates | | | |