Rubric for discussion posts

	Exceeds	Meets	Below	Zero
Responds to discussion prompts or course readings or videos	The student contributes well-explained, thoroughly addressed, thoughtful and reflective ideas that have substance/depth.  Includes pertinent questions, and additional or referenced resources.  Discussion posts refer to the readings/videos and are used to support the writer’s position.  The post stimulates and opens discussion.  Posts include multiple references to other course readings or examples from academic literature or the real world.	The student contributes moderately well-explained ideas, which have some substance/depth.  May include questions and additional or referenced resources.  Discussion posts do not refer to the readings/videos – instead they copy or restate content verbatim.  The entry results in some continued discussion.  Posts include few references to course readings or examples from academic literature or the real world.	The student contributes poorly explained, weakly addressed ideas, which lack substance/depth and reflection.  Discussion posts do not refer to the readings at all.  The entry does not stimulate discussion.  Entries lack references to any course readings or outside materials.	No participation or insignificant participation
Community	Posts indicate “listening” to others’ positions, ideas, and questions by responding reflectively and with substance.  Contributes multiple interactions and responses during the week that foster a sense of community.  Participant has more responses of substance than those of short comment or praise.	Posts indicate “listening” to others’ positions, ideas and questions.  At a minimum, the student responds to 2 or 3 posts by classmates.  Responses include items both of substance and of brief comment or praise.	All posts are made in the last hours before they are due that week, thus leaving no time for reciprocal conversation and commenting.  Posts do not “listen” to others and respond.  Student at a minimum responds to 1 classmate’s post.  Responses are mostly brief comments or praise statements and contain almost no posts of substance.	No participation or insignificant participation
Professionalism	Post entries are free of misspellings and grammatical errors.  Entries use and maintain respectful language, tone and content.  Electronic “Netiquette” (see syllabus) is consistently practiced.		Entries have misspellings and grammatical errors.  Entries may include disrespectful or offensive language, tone or content.  Adherence to electronic Netiquette (see syllabus) is not consistently practiced.	No participation or insignificant participation