Discussion Rubric

Each week a student can receive a maximum of 20 points for class discussion that week.
5 points are given for attendance, leaving 15 points to be decided by the result of the discussion
(or online forum posts).
Minimal Satisfactory Exemplary
1-2 3-4 5
Engagement  Student takes no or  Student is taking notes  Student is actively taking notes on
minimal notes some of the time. the whole conversation
 Student participates  Student participates 2-3  Student participates 4+ times
0-1 times times  The student is actively tracking the
 Student is napping or  Student watches other conversation and it is clear they are
seemingly unengaged students while they speak actively listening

Content  Statements are  Statements use some  Statements are warranted arguments
unwarranted or have evidence or examples  Statements are analytical and critical
no follow-up  Statements are a mixture  Asks thought provoking questions to
reasoning of just facts and critical the group
 Statements are reasoning  Student is relating to other class
simple, like just  Asks questions, but they content (lectures, past group
agreements or a don’t push the discussions, readings, activities, etc.)
relevant fact conversation forward
 Asks no questions

Demeanor Student is hard to  Addresses most of the  Clearly speaking to whole group
hear or understand; students and is mostly  Responses and critiques to other
unclear easy to hear student statements are respectful
Tone and attitude are  Tone or attitude is positive  Tone and attitude is positive
negative  Interruption and  Student is not interrupting or
Speaking out of turn distraction is minimal distracting other students
or to neighbor and  Encourages other students to be
distracting others respectful or speak in turn