Discussion Board Assessment Guide
Addressing the Questions (30% of points)
A Developing Writer (10%)
Will skim or not directly address the questions/discussion points.
A Competent Writer (60%)
Will directly address some of the questions/discussion points.
An Accomplished Writer (100%)
Will directly address all the questions/discussion points.
Thoughtfulness (50% of points)
A Developing Writer (10%)
Responds in a cursory manner; does not engage with the ideas or questions, may be off topic or on tangents, and does not engage with the ideas presented in peers’ responses.
A Competent Writer (60%)
Engages with most, if not all, the ideas or questions in some length and detail, and shows s/he is using writing to think through his/her ideas and to respond to peers’ ideas.
An Accomplished Writer (100%)
Fully engages with all the questions/discussion points—spending time thinking through, in writing, the different possibilities and angles of what is being discussed, and seriously and thoughtfully weighs and writes to peers’ posts.
Style & Correctness (20% of points)
A Developing Writer (5%)
Appears to have dashed off the response without thinking too long about spelling, punctuation, or readability.
A Competent Writer (65%)
Has taken the time to spell check and re-read the post for errors; has taken time to make sure sentences make sense and are fairly organized and readable.
An Accomplished Writer (100%)
Has taken the time to go beyond spell check and has proofed the post for errors; has taken time to organize/revise the post to clearly show and support her/his thinking and responses to peers’ posts--what they have to say is readable and understandable.
Informal Writing & Response Guidelines
Informal Writing: Quality & Length (75% of points)
Developing Writing (10%)
Is Cursory, does not directly address the prompt, and/or is skimpy and abstract—lacking detail and concrete language.
Competent Writing (60%)
Addresses the prompt; has concrete details and language; is thoughtful and is within the length guidelines of the assignment.
Accomplished Writing (100%)
Addresses the prompt fully; exhibits rich language and concrete details in a complex and thoughtful way; is the within the length guidelines of the assignment.
Written Responses (25%)
Developing Responses (10%)
Follow the given response guidelines partially; do not respond to all group members works; and, show a lack of reading and attempting to understand peers’ work.
Competent Responses (60%)
Follow the given response guidelines; respond too all group member’s works; are well thought out and show a careful reading of peers’ works.
Accomplished Responses (100%)
Follow all the given response guidelines thoroughly for all group members’ works in a detailed and thoughtful way; exhibits a careful reading and consideration of the ideas presented in each piece.
Addressing the Questions (30% of points)
A Developing Writer (10%)
Will skim or not directly address the questions/discussion points.
A Competent Writer (60%)
Will directly address some of the questions/discussion points.
An Accomplished Writer (100%)
Will directly address all the questions/discussion points.
Thoughtfulness (50% of points)
A Developing Writer (10%)
Responds in a cursory manner; does not engage with the ideas or questions, may be off topic or on tangents, and does not engage with the ideas presented in peers’ responses.
A Competent Writer (60%)
Engages with most, if not all, the ideas or questions in some length and detail, and shows s/he is using writing to think through his/her ideas and to respond to peers’ ideas.
An Accomplished Writer (100%)
Fully engages with all the questions/discussion points—spending time thinking through, in writing, the different possibilities and angles of what is being discussed, and seriously and thoughtfully weighs and writes to peers’ posts.
Style & Correctness (20% of points)
A Developing Writer (5%)
Appears to have dashed off the response without thinking too long about spelling, punctuation, or readability.
A Competent Writer (65%)
Has taken the time to spell check and re-read the post for errors; has taken time to make sure sentences make sense and are fairly organized and readable.
An Accomplished Writer (100%)
Has taken the time to go beyond spell check and has proofed the post for errors; has taken time to organize/revise the post to clearly show and support her/his thinking and responses to peers’ posts--what they have to say is readable and understandable.
Informal Writing & Response Guidelines
Informal Writing: Quality & Length (75% of points)
Developing Writing (10%)
Is Cursory, does not directly address the prompt, and/or is skimpy and abstract—lacking detail and concrete language.
Competent Writing (60%)
Addresses the prompt; has concrete details and language; is thoughtful and is within the length guidelines of the assignment.
Accomplished Writing (100%)
Addresses the prompt fully; exhibits rich language and concrete details in a complex and thoughtful way; is the within the length guidelines of the assignment.
Written Responses (25%)
Developing Responses (10%)
Follow the given response guidelines partially; do not respond to all group members works; and, show a lack of reading and attempting to understand peers’ work.
Competent Responses (60%)
Follow the given response guidelines; respond too all group member’s works; are well thought out and show a careful reading of peers’ works.
Accomplished Responses (100%)
Follow all the given response guidelines thoroughly for all group members’ works in a detailed and thoughtful way; exhibits a careful reading and consideration of the ideas presented in each piece.