This document provides a rubric for evaluating student participation in class discussions. It outlines five criteria for strong, proficient, basic, and weak participation. The criteria are listening skills, preparation, quality of contributions, impact on the discussion, and frequency of participation. For each level, it describes the expected behaviors and level of engagement with the material and other students.

1. Discussion Rubric
Strong Proficient Basic Weak
Listening Actively and respectfully Actively and respectfully Sometimes displays lack of Frequently displays lack of
listens to peers and listens to peers and interest in comments of interest and rarely
teacher. teacher most of the time. others. respects peers and teacher.
Preparation Arrives fully prepared with Arrives prepared with Sometimes arrives Frequently arrives
all assignments completed, most assignments unprepared or with only unprepared.
and notes on completed and notes on superficial preparation.
movie/reading. movie/reading.
Quality of Contributions Comments are relevant Most comments are Some comments are Most comments are
and reflect understanding relevant and reflect irrelevant, betray lack of irrelevant, betray lack of
of assigned texts or film; understanding of assigned preparation, or indicate preparation, or indicate
previous remarks of other texts or film; previous lack of attention to lack of attention to
students; and insights remarks of other students; previous remarks of previous remarks of
about assigned material. and insights about others. others.
assigned material.
Impact on Seminar Comments always help Comments mostly advance Comments sometimes help Comments rarely help
move seminar the conversation forward. move seminar forward. move seminar forward.
conversation forward.
Frequency of Participation Actively participates at Participates often at Sometimes participates but Rarely participates and is
appropriate times. mostly appropriate times. is distracted at other times. often distracted.