Application Essay Rubric Excellent Good Acceptable Unacceptable Score Content (40 points) (20 points) (17 points) (17 points) (27 points) Criteria The essay illustrates exemplary understanding of the course material by thoroughly and correctly: (1) addressing the relevant content; (2) identifying and explaining all of the key concepts/ideas; (3) using correct terminology; (4) explaining the reasoning behind key points/claims; and (5) (where necessary or useful) substantiating points with several accurate and original examples. The essay illustrates solid understanding of the course material by correctly: (1) addressing most of the relevant content; (2) identifying and explaining most of the key concepts/ideas; (3) using correct terminology; (4) explaining the reasoning behind most of the key points/claims; and (5) (where necessary or useful) substantiating some points with accurate examples. The essay illustrates rudimentary understanding of the course material by: (1) mentioning, but not fully explaining, the relevant content; (2) identifying some of the key concepts/ideas (though failing to fully or accurately explain many of them); (3) using terminology, though sometimes inaccurately or inappropriately; and (4) incorporating some key claims/points, but failing to explain the reasoning behind them (or doing so inaccurately). The essay illustrates poor understanding of the course material by (1) failing to address or incorrectly addressing the relevant content; (2) failing to identify or inaccurately explaining/defining key concepts/ideas; (3) ignoring or incorrectly explaining key points/claims and the reasoning behind them; and (4) incorrectly or inappropriately using terminology Reasoning (40 points) (20 points) (17 points) (17 points) (14 points) Criteria The essay reflects expert reasoning by: (1) synthesizing material; (2) making connections between relevant ideas/claims/points; (3) presenting an insightful and thorough evaluation of the relevant issue or problem; (4) identifying and discussing important nuances in the relevant material; and (5) identifying and discussing key assumptions and/or implications. The essay reflects fairly strong reasoning by: (1) synthesizing material, (2) making appropriate connections between some of the key ideas/claims/points; (3) accurately evaluating the issue/problem; and (4) identifying ad discussing key assumptions and/or implications. The essay reflects basic reasoning by: (1) synthesizing some of the material, though remains vague and undeveloped; (2) making a few connections between ideas/claims/points, but ignoring or inaccurately connecting others; (3) evaluating the issue/problem at a very basic/superficial level; and (4) ignoring assumptions and i.

1. Application Essay Rubric
Excellent Good Acceptable Unacceptable Score
Content
(40 points)
(20 points) (17 points) (17 points) (27 points)
Criteria
The essay illustrates
exemplary understanding
of the course material by
thoroughly and correctly:
(1) addressing the relevant
content; (2) identifying
and explaining all of the
key concepts/ideas; (3)

2. using correct terminology;
(4) explaining the
reasoning behind key
points/claims; and (5)
(where necessary or
useful) substantiating
points with several
accurate and original
examples.
The essay illustrates
solid understanding of
the course material by
correctly: (1) addressing
most of the relevant
content; (2) identifying
and explaining most of
the key concepts/ideas;
(3) using correct

3. terminology; (4)
explaining the reasoning
behind most of the key
points/claims; and (5)
(where necessary or
useful) substantiating
some points with
accurate examples.
The essay illustrates
rudimentary understanding
of the course material by:
(1) mentioning, but not
fully explaining, the
relevant content; (2)
identifying some of the key
concepts/ideas (though
failing to fully or accurately
explain many of them); (3)

4. using terminology, though
sometimes inaccurately or
inappropriately; and (4)
incorporating some key
claims/points, but failing to
explain the reasoning
behind them (or doing so
inaccurately).
The essay illustrates poor
understanding of the
course material by (1)
failing to address or
incorrectly addressing the
relevant content; (2)
failing to identify or
inaccurately
explaining/defining key
concepts/ideas; (3)

5. ignoring or incorrectly
explaining key
points/claims and the
reasoning behind them;
and (4) incorrectly or
inappropriately using
terminology
Reasoning
(40 points)
(20 points) (17 points) (17 points) (14 points)
Criteria
The essay reflects expert
reasoning by:
(1) synthesizing material;
(2) making connections
between relevant
ideas/claims/points; (3)
presenting an insightful

6. and thorough evaluation
of the relevant issue or
problem; (4) identifying
and discussing important
nuances in the relevant
material; and (5)
identifying and discussing
key assumptions and/or
implications.
The essay reflects fairly
strong reasoning by:
(1) synthesizing material,
(2) making appropriate
connections between
some of the key
ideas/claims/points; (3)
accurately evaluating the
issue/problem; and (4)

7. identifying ad discussing
key assumptions and/or
implications.
The essay reflects basic
reasoning by:
(1) synthesizing some of
the material, though
remains vague and
undeveloped; (2) making a
few connections between
ideas/claims/points, but
ignoring or inaccurately
connecting others; (3)
evaluating the
issue/problem at a very
basic/superficial level; and
(4) ignoring assumptions
and implications.

8. The essay reflects
substandard or poor
reasoning by: (1) failing to
synthesize the material or
doing so inaccurately; (2)
failing to make
connections between
ideas/claims/points or
doing so inaccurately; and
(3) failing to evaluate the
issue or problem.
Writing
(20 points)
(10 points) (9 points) (8 points) (7 points)
Criteria
The essay is clear, and
concise as a result of: (1)

9. appropriate and precise
use of terminology; (2)
absence of tangents and
coherence of thoughts;
and (3) logical
organization of ideas and
thoughts. (4) complete
sentences, free of spelling
errors and uses correct
grammar, (5) follows
correct formatting style,
(6) falls between the
minimum and maximum
page requirement.
The essay is mostly clear
as a result of: (1)
appropriate use of
terminology and minimal

10. vagueness; (2) minimal
number of tangents and
lack of repetition; and (3)
fairly good organization
(4) complete sentences,
few spelling errors and
grammar mistakes, (5)
follows correct
formatting style with
minimal mistakes, (6)
falls between the
minimum and maximum
page requirement.
The essay is often unclear
and difficult to follow due
to: (1) some inappropriate
terminology and/or vague
language; (2) ideas

11. sometimes being
fragmented, wondering
and/or repetitive; and (3)
poor organization. (4)
incomplete sentences, has
spelling errors and uses
acceptable grammar, (5)
barely follows correct
formatting style, (6) does
not fall between the
minimum and maximum
page requirement.
The essay does not
communicate ideas/points
clearly due to: (1)
inappropriate use of
terminology and vague
language; (2) reliance on

12. disjointed and
incomprehensible
thoughts and clauses; and
(3) lack of recognizable
organization. (4) no
sentence structure, many
spelling errors and
unacceptable grammar, (5)
does not follow correct
formatting style, (6) does
not fall between the
minimum and maximum
page requirement.
TOTAL POINTS:
Nonverbal Communication Application Essay 2:
Nonverbal Assignment: Breaking the Rules

13. Your second application essay is designed to heighten your
awareness of the different expectations people have
for nonverbal communication. For this essay, you should make a
list of the nonverbal behavior “rules” you
experience on a daily basis. Then, you should intentionally
violate the nonverbal behavior rule and observe
other’s reactions. You must engage in the violation no less than
five times with five different people.
To complete this assignment, you should write a 2 – 3 page
essay addressing the questions below. You will be
evaluated on your understanding of course material, your
reasoning and synthesis of ideas, and your writing
style including grammar and mechanics. All writing
assignments should be double-spaced with 1” margins and
12-point font.
Assignment Requirements: _____
Using your experience and the textbook, answer the following
questions thoroughly and thoughtfully:
1. What nonverbal communication behavior did you choose to
violate and why?
2. How did you violate the nonverbal norms? Describe what you

14. did, with whom, and where. (Remember:
the violation should’ve occurred at least five times with five
different people.)
3. What categories of nonverbal communication were part of
your nonverbal violation? Describe the
category and what the “norm” is associated with that behavior.
a. Physical Appearance
b. Gesture and Body Movement
c. Face and Eye Behavior
d. Vocal Behavior
e. Personal Space
f. Touch
g. Scent / Smell
h. Time
4. What did others say and do in response to your nonverbal
violation? Describe the categories of
nonverbal communication that were part of the subject’s
response
a. Physical Appearance
b. Gesture and Body Movement
c. Face and Eye Behavior
d. Vocal Behavior
e. Personal Space
f. Touch
g. Scent / Smell
h. Time

15. 5. How did you feel violating these norms?
6. Why do nonverbal norms, such as the one you violated, exist?
What is their purpose?
TURNITIN.COM and Grademark _____
1. Review the detailed Turnitin instructions on how to submit
your assignments and how to review the
Grademark comments (feedback) from your professor.
2. All written assignments must be submitted to Turnitin
Dropboxes by the posted deadline. Assignments
submitted by any other means will not be accepted.
3. Turnitin drop boxes will be available within the Assignment
Dropbox link off the course tools menu on
the left hand side of the page within Blackboard.
4. Within one week after the assignment’s deadline has passed,
you will receive written feedback on your
assignment. The written comments on your assignment are
accessible using the GradeMark function
within your assignment submission.
5. Late Submissions must be uploaded in the appropriately
labeled “Late Drop Box” by the posted “Late
Assignment Deadline”. Late submissions are only eligible for a
maximum of 50% of the assignments
original point value.
http://online.fiu.edu/html/blackboardlearn/mastertemplate/turnit
in