Grading Rubric for Linking to Life Project

GRADING RUBRIC OVERVIEW
(worth 35 pts)

Report's Required Items:

Introduction - state your project category and why it interests you, then state the Question you posed for your investigation of the category.

Connection to Global Change - explain how your cateogry and/or question relate to one or more of the topics of our course. (mention topic by name and # and give details about what in that course topic connects to your question specifically.)

Data & Methods - explain what you did, what data or information you collected, where you got it, and how you analyzed it. Where possible, include the data (or a summary table or listing of it).

Findings & Discussion - express what you found out through the analysis of your data / information. Explain what you discovered and learned, plus how your findings relate to the question you posed.

The Bottom Line - State your conclusion (or "Bottom Line"). Explain what you decided about the question you posed and provide a reasoned explanation of how the information or data you collected in your investigation supports this conclusion.

References citing sources for your information (e.g., include all articles, and webpage URL's from which, you obtained information). Citations to these references should by inserted in the text to connect the statement with the source of the information for the statement.

See BELOW for details on how the 35 POINTS will be ASSIGNED FOR THE PROJECT REPORT:

Excellent / Very Good

Good / Satisfactory

Needs improvement / Unacceptable

REPORT
Content, Linkage to Course Material & Originality

(25 pts possible)

18- 25 pts based on the following:

Addresses the bulleted items above clearly, thoroughly, accurately, & articulately.

Demonstrates a high level of independent critical thinking about the assignment making connections in a creative way; digs deeply into the background information and finds additional supporting material; effectively ties together the question posed and the course content.

Makes final conclusion / bottom line statement and/or recommendation based on clear evidence from the investigation that is conveyed in the report; supports this with an effective and thoughtful discussion that refers to the investigation to draw sound conclusions.

10- 17 pts based on the following:

Addresses the bulleted items above clearly, adequately, and accurately

Demonstrates some independent thinking and synthesis; does not just "parrot" phrases from the sources, but shows evidence of thinking and making connections between the question posed and the course content.

Makes final conclusion / bottom line statement and/or recommendation based on sufficient evidence displayed in the report; supports this with a discussion that refers to the investigation to draw appropriate conclusions.

0-9 pts based on the following:

Addresses the bulleted items, but not clearly, thoroughly or accurately on every point.

Demonstrates some follow-up thinking about the assignment but mostly repeats the bare bones of information found in the sources provided; doesn't go beyond this by digging out new info or thinking on one's own.

Presents a question and/or conclusion, but does not provide a very strong or effective discussion of how the conclusion was drawn.

REPORT
Format & Mechanics

(5 pts possible)

4-5 pts based on whether:

Paper has effective sentence and paragraph structure.

Content is well-organized and argument flows well from the organization and format of text.

Writing is concise; effective and conclusive.
Write-up contains only minimal spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. (This includes typos, so be sure to spell-check and then to edit.)

2- 3 pts based on whether:

Most sentences are concise and show good word choice and arrangement. Paragraphs are well-organized.

Content is sufficiently organized and argument is easily understandable from the organization and format of text. Adequate conclusion/ recommendation is provided.
Writte-up contains a few spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors, and none that detract from the text's effectiveness & meaning.

0 - 1 pts based on whether:

Writing is excessively wordy with many poorly structured sentences and poorly organized paragraphs.

Content is poorly organized and argument doesn't hold together in the text's format and organization . Conclusion/recommendation is absent or ineffective.
Write-up contains many spelling, punctuation or grammar errors that detract significantly from the text's effectiveness & meaning

REPORT
REFERENCES
& ORIGINALITY
( 5 pts possible)

5 pts if sources are well-cited in proper format (see below) & no plagiarism detected

2-4 pts if sources are cited, but not completely, or not in proper format (see below) or problems with originality report

0-1 pt if sources are not cited at all
(0 pt) or only minimally and not sufficiently (0.5 pt) & major problems with originality report

NOTE: 0 Points and/or further sanctions for non-original work identified by TurnItIn

Bonus Point Opportunity

(1-3 pts possible for some topics

(1-2 pts for early submission bonus)

thoughtful/well-prepared post with a detailed narrative (several paragraphs) about the bonus activity; shows evidence of strong effort following specific bonus point directions (3 pts)

Early submittal (1 or 2 pts )
satisfactory post indicating a good effort, but not to the level described under "Excellent" (2 pts)

made an attempt to do the bonus activity and make a post, but short, weak or cliche' effort (.5 -1pt

GRADING RUBRIC OVERVIEW (worth 35 pts)
Report's Required Items: Introduction - state your project category and why it interests you, then state the Question you posed for your investigation of the category. Connection to Global Change - explain how your cateogry and/or question relate to one or more of the topics of our course. (mention topic by name and # and give details about what in that course topic connects to your question specifically.) Data & Methods - explain what you did, what data or information you collected, where you got it, and how you analyzed it. Where possible, include the data (or a summary table or listing of it). Findings & Discussion - express what you found out through the analysis of your data / information. Explain what you discovered and learned, plus how your findings relate to the question you posed. The Bottom Line - State your conclusion (or "Bottom Line"). Explain what you decided about the question you posed and provide a reasoned explanation of how the information or data you collected in your investigation supports this conclusion. References citing sources for your information (e.g., include all articles, and webpage URL's from which, you obtained information). Citations to these references should by inserted in the text to connect the statement with the source of the information for the statement. See BELOW for details on how the 35 POINTS will be ASSIGNED FOR THE PROJECT REPORT:
	Excellent / Very Good	Good / Satisfactory	Needs improvement / Unacceptable
REPORT Content, Linkage to Course Material & Originality (25 pts possible)	18- 25 pts based on the following: Addresses the bulleted items above clearly, thoroughly, accurately, & articulately. Demonstrates a high level of independent critical thinking about the assignment making connections in a creative way; digs deeply into the background information and finds additional supporting material; effectively ties together the question posed and the course content. Makes final conclusion / bottom line statement and/or recommendation based on clear evidence from the investigation that is conveyed in the report; supports this with an effective and thoughtful discussion that refers to the investigation to draw sound conclusions.	10- 17 pts based on the following: Addresses the bulleted items above clearly, adequately, and accurately Demonstrates some independent thinking and synthesis; does not just "parrot" phrases from the sources, but shows evidence of thinking and making connections between the question posed and the course content. Makes final conclusion / bottom line statement and/or recommendation based on sufficient evidence displayed in the report; supports this with a discussion that refers to the investigation to draw appropriate conclusions.	0-9 pts based on the following: Addresses the bulleted items, but not clearly, thoroughly or accurately on every point. Demonstrates some follow-up thinking about the assignment but mostly repeats the bare bones of information found in the sources provided; doesn't go beyond this by digging out new info or thinking on one's own. Presents a question and/or conclusion, but does not provide a very strong or effective discussion of how the conclusion was drawn.
REPORT Format & Mechanics (5 pts possible)	4-5 pts based on whether: Paper has effective sentence and paragraph structure. Content is well-organized and argument flows well from the organization and format of text. Writing is concise; effective and conclusive. Write-up contains only minimal spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. (This includes typos, so be sure to spell-check and then to edit.)	2- 3 pts based on whether: Most sentences are concise and show good word choice and arrangement. Paragraphs are well-organized. Content is sufficiently organized and argument is easily understandable from the organization and format of text. Adequate conclusion/ recommendation is provided. Writte-up contains a few spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors, and none that detract from the text's effectiveness & meaning.	0 - 1 pts based on whether: Writing is excessively wordy with many poorly structured sentences and poorly organized paragraphs. Content is poorly organized and argument doesn't hold together in the text's format and organization . Conclusion/recommendation is absent or ineffective. Write-up contains many spelling, punctuation or grammar errors that detract significantly from the text's effectiveness & meaning
REPORT REFERENCES & ORIGINALITY ( 5 pts possible)	5 pts if sources are well-cited in proper format (see below) & no plagiarism detected	2-4 pts if sources are cited, but not completely, or not in proper format (see below) or problems with originality report	0-1 pt if sources are not cited at all (0 pt) or only minimally and not sufficiently (0.5 pt) & major problems with originality report
NOTE: 0 Points and/or further sanctions for non-original work identified by TurnItIn
Bonus Point Opportunity (1-3 pts possible for some topics (1-2 pts for early submission bonus)	thoughtful/well-prepared post with a detailed narrative (several paragraphs) about the bonus activity; shows evidence of strong effort following specific bonus point directions (3 pts) Early submittal (1 or 2 pts )	satisfactory post indicating a good effort, but not to the level described under "Excellent" (2 pts)	made an attempt to do the bonus activity and make a post, but short, weak or cliche' effort (.5 -1pt