Evaluation of Discussion

(Used with permission -- developed by L. Nelson)

If you are to develop as a thinker, you will need to develop as a writer as well. In this course your discussion takes the form of writing being we do not meet face-to-face. To develop as a writer, you must impose upon yourself the same standards that good writers impose upon themselves. The key question I will ask myself as I grade your written work is “What specifically does your writing demonstrate about your ability to reason/think?”

As you discuss/write, here are some key points you should keep in mind:

• Make clear the question or issue you are discussing or you will drift. Clarify the question you are focused on and stick to that question throughout the discussion. Show how each point is relevant to that question. Are you answering the question for discussion?
  
• You should give examples and illustrations wherever clarification of your meaning is needed. When you do not give concrete examples and illustrations to make your point clear, you demonstrate that you do not know how to clarify your thought, or for some reason have chosen not to. You should make clear the logical relations between the sentences and paragraphs you write. Use transitional words and critical vocabulary.
  
• Analyze key concepts whenever it is needed.
  
• When you write sentences that can be interpreted in many different ways (and you do not make clear which meaning you intend), you demonstrate that you are thinking in a vague way. You should therefore strive to write so that you make clear precisely what you mean. Ask others to critique your work.
  
• Do not make sweeping generalizations or judgments about positions you have not sufficiently analyzed. If you do that, you are demonstrating ignorance and lack of perspective. Demonstrate that you have considered all reasonable ways of looking at an issue.
  
• Of course you should use correct spelling and grammar. Occasional misspellings or poor word usage is human. Sometimes our fingers move slower than our minds and we type in error. Be sure and review your writing.
  
• Because we are using a discussion format in this course, invite others to comment on your thoughts. Do they agree or disagree? Each participant has introduced themselves and based on their past experience you might want to request specific classmates to comment based on their experience. This makes the discussion more helpful and interesting.

Each discussion assignment will be evaluated on the following scale.  If an assignment is worth 15pts, the scale will be adjusted accordingly.  For example, instead of 5 pts, the pts would range from 13-15 for excellent work, 10-12pts for good,  7-9pts for average, 4-6pts for below average, and 1-3pts for the lowest grade.