Discussion Rubric: Undergraduate
Your active participation in the discussion forums is essential to your overall success this term. Discussion questions are designed to help you make meaningful
connections between the course content and the larger concepts and goals of the course. These discussions offer you the opportunity to express your own
thoughts, ask questions for clarification, and gain insight from your classmates’ responses and instructor’s guidance.
Requirements for Discussion Board Assignments
Students are required to post one initial post and to follow up with at least two response posts for each discussion board assignment.
For your initial post (1), you must do the following:
Compose a post of one to two paragraphs.
In Module One, complete the initial post by Thursday at 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time.
In Modules Two through Eight, complete the initial post by Thursday at
11:59 p.m. of your local time zone.
Take into consideration material such as course content and other
discussion boards from the current module and previous modules, when
appropriate (make sure you are using proper citation methods for your
discipline when referencing scholarly or popular resources).
For your response posts (2), you must do the following:
Reply to at least two different classmates outside of your own initial
post thread.
In Module One, complete the two response posts by Sunday at 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time.
In Modules Two through Eight, complete the two response posts by
Sunday at 11:59 p.m. of your local time zone.
Demonstrate more depth and thought than simply stating that “I agree”
or “You are wrong.” Guidance is provided for you in each discussion
prompt.
Rubric
Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not Evident Value
Comprehension Develops an initial post with an
organized, clear point of view or
idea using rich and significant detail
(100%)
Develops an initial post with a
point of view or idea using
adequate organization and
detail (85%)
Develops an initial post with a
point of view or idea but with
some gaps in organization and
detail (55%)
Does not develop an initial post
with an organized point of view
or idea (0%)
40
Timeliness Submits initial post on time
(100%)
Submits initial post one day late
(55%)
Submits initial post two or more
days late (0%)
10
Engagement Provides relevant and meaningful
response posts with clarifying
explanation and detail (100%)
Provides relevant response
posts with some explanation
and detail (85%)
Provides somewhat relevant
response posts with some
explanation and detail (55%)
Provides response posts that
are generic with little
explanation or detail (0%)
30
Writing
(Mechanics)
Writes posts that are easily
understood, clear, and concise
using proper citation methods
where applicable with no errors in
citations (100%)
Writes posts that are easily
understood using proper
citation methods where
applicable with few errors in
citations (85%)
Writes posts that are
understandable using proper
citation methods where
applicable with a number of
errors in citations (55%)
Writes posts that others are not
able to understand and does
not use proper citation
methods where applicable (0%)
20
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Undergraduate Discussion Rubric
This semester, your active participation in the discussion boards is critical to your overall performance. The purpose of discussion questions is to Help you in making meaningful decisions.
linkages between the course content and the course’s bigger concepts and goals These dialogues provide you with the opportunity to express yourself.
thoughts, ask clarifying questions, and gain understanding from your peers’ comments and the instructor’s direction
Discussion Board Assignment Requirements
For each discussion board assignment, students are required to make one original post and at least two follow-up entries.
You must accomplish the following for your first post (1):
Write a one-to-two-paragraph entry.
Complete the first post in Module One by Thursday, 11:59 p.m.
Eastern
