This document outlines a rubric for grading student discussion posts and replies in an online course. It evaluates students on content, structure, and integration of biblical worldview. For the original post, students can earn up to 19 points for content and 5 points for structure. For each of two required replies, students can earn up to 8 points for content and 5 points for structure. Higher scores are given for more thorough engagement with course materials, critical analysis, and APA formatting.

1. CSCI 561 DB Standardized Rubric
50 Points
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Content
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not present
Thread (19 pts.)
Student effectively answers the questions with supporting
material from the week’s reading with thoughtful analysis.
Christian worldview integration found, supported by scripture.
19 to 17 points*
Student’s post effectively answers both questions in the
discussion board by thoroughly analyzing material presented by
the course readings (internal sources) as well as other
academically approved sources (external). Post shows a
thorough interaction with material in a thought-provoking
manner to encourage class interaction.
16 points*
Student’s post effectively answers the key points of both
questions in the discussion board. Post reveals interaction with
course readings (internal) sources or other academically
approved (external) sources. Post shows proficient interaction
with material in logical manner so as to encourage class
interaction.
15 to 1 points*
Student’s post answers all or most of the key points of both
questions in the discussion board. Post reveals interaction with
some course (internal) sources or other (external) sources. Post
shows moderate interaction with material in logical manner
which may or may not promote class interaction.

2. 0 points
No post was made for this thread.
Reply 1 (8 pts)
Student commentary adds value to the ongoing conversation,
supports thoughts with academic material. Christian
worldview integration found, supported by scripture.
8 points*
Student’s reply adds notable depth to the ongoing conversation
and encourages collaborative discussion among peers in a
thought-provoking way. Student supports their thoughts with
both course readings (internal sources) and other academically
approved sources (external). Biblical integration found.
7 points*
Student’s reply adds some depth to the ongoing conversation
and encourages collaborative discussion among peers in a
proficient way. Student supports their thoughts with either
course readings (internal sources) or other academically
approved sources (external). Biblical integration found.
6 to 1 points*
Student’s reply adds minimal depth to the ongoing conversation
among peers in a thought-provoking way. Student supports their
thoughts with either course readings (internal sources) or other
sources (external). Biblical integration may or may not be
found.
0 points
No initial reply was made for this thread.
Reply 2 (8 pts)
Student commentary adds value to the ongoing conversation,
supports thoughts with academic material. Christian
worldview integration found, supported by scripture.
8 points*
Student’s reply adds notable depth to the ongoing conversation
and encourages collaborative discussion among peers in a
thought-provoking way. Student supports their thoughts with
course readings (internal sources) or other academically
approved sources (external). Biblical integration found.

3. 7 points*
Student’s reply adds some depth to the ongoing conversation
and encourages collaborative discussion among peers in a
thought-provoking way. Student supports their thoughts with
either course readings (internal sources) or other academically
approved sources (external). Biblical integration found.
6 to 1 points*
Student’s reply adds minimal depth to the ongoing conversation
among peers in a thought-provoking way. Student supports their
thoughts with either course readings (internal sources) or other
sources (external). Biblical integration may or may not be
found.
0 points
No second reply was made for this thread.
Structure
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not present
Thread (5 pts)
Post should be at least 350 words with proper APA formatting
elements and proper grammar and spelling.
5 points*
Post was between 350 and 700 words and exhibited solid APA
formatting of paragraphs, citations and references. No grammar
or spelling issues found.
4 points*
Post was at least 350 words and exhibited only minor APA
formatting issues. Minor grammar or spelling issues found that
do not detract from the reader’s ability to comprehend the post.
3 to 1 points*
Post was between 175 and 350 words. Student attempts to
illustrate proper APA form in the post. Grammar or spelling

4. issues were notable but did not prevent reader from
understanding the key aspects of the post.
0 points
Post was less than 175 words or did not get posted at all or was
grammatically difficult to follow.
Reply 1 (5 pts)
Reply should be at least 150 words with proper APA formatting
elements and proper grammar and spelling.
5 points*
Reply was between 150 and 300 words and exhibited solid APA
formatting of paragraphs, citation, and references. No grammar
or spelling issues found.
4 points*
Reply was at least 150 words and exhibited only minor APA
formatting issues. Minor grammar or spelling issues found that
do not detract from the reader’s ability to comprehend the post.
3 to 1 points*
Reply was at least 100 words. Student attempts to illustrate
proper APA form in the post. Grammar or spelling issues were
notable but did not prevent the reader from understanding the
key aspects of the post.
0 points
Reply was less than 100 words or did not get posted at all or
was grammatically difficult to follow.
Reply 2 (5 pts)
Reply should be at least 150 words with proper APA formatting
elements and proper grammar and spelling.
5 points*
Reply was between 150 and 300 words and exhibited solid APA
formatting of paragraphs, citation, and references. Reply
content is fundamentally different than the first reply. No
grammar or spelling issues found.
4 points*
Reply was at least 150 words and exhibited only minor APA
formatting issues. Minor grammar or spelling issues found that

5. do not detract from the reader’s ability to comprehend the post.
Reply content was fundamentally different than the first reply.
3 to 1 points*
Reply was at least 100 words. Student attempts to illustrate
proper APA form in the post. Grammar or spelling issues were
notable but did not prevent the reader from understanding the
key aspects of the post. Reply content may or may not be
fundamentally different than first reply.
0 points
Reply was less than 100 words or did not get posted at all or
was grammatically difficult to follow. Reply was simply a
copy/paste of the first reply with little or no content change.
*Please see the Levels of Achievement Points spreadsheet for
standardized point values based off your school/department’s
grading scale.
CSCI 561 DB Standardized Rubric
50 Points
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Content
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not present
Thread (19 pts.)
Student effectively answers the questions with supporting
material from the week’s reading with thoughtful analysis.
Christian worldview integration found, supported by scripture.
19 to 17 points*
Student’s post effectively answers both questions in the
discussion board by thoroughly analyzing material presented by
the course readings (internal sources) as well as other

6. academically approved sources (external). Post shows a
thorough interaction with material in a thought-provoking
manner to encourage class interaction.
16 points*
Student’s post effectively answers the key points of both
questions in the discussion board. Post reveals interaction with
course readings (internal) sources or other academically
approved (external) sources. Post shows proficient interaction
with material in logical manner so as to encourage class
interaction.
15 to 1 points*
Student’s post answers all or most of the key points of both
questions in the discussion board. Post reveals interaction with
some course (internal) sources or other (external) sources. Post
shows moderate interaction with material in logical manner
which may or may not promote class interaction.
0 points
No post was made for this thread.
Reply 1 (8 pts)
Student commentary adds value to the ongoing conversation,
supports thoughts with academic material. Christian
worldview integration found, supported by scripture.
8 points*
Student’s reply adds notable depth to the ongoing conversation
and encourages collaborative discussion among peers in a
thought-provoking way. Student supports their thoughts with
both course readings (internal sources) and other academically
approved sources (external). Biblical integration found.
7 points*
Student’s reply adds some depth to the ongoing conversation
and encourages collaborative discussion among peers in a
proficient way. Student supports their thoughts with either
course readings (internal sources) or other academically
approved sources (external). Biblical integration found.
6 to 1 points*
Student’s reply adds minimal depth to the ongoing conversation

7. among peers in a thought-provoking way. Student supports their
thoughts with either course readings (internal sources) or other
sources (external). Biblical integration may or may not be
found.
0 points
No initial reply was made for this thread.
Reply 2 (8 pts)
Student commentary adds value to the ongoing conversation,
supports thoughts with academic material. Christian
worldview integration found, supported by scripture.
8 points*
Student’s reply adds notable depth to the ongoing conversation
and encourages collaborative discussion among peers in a
thought-provoking way. Student supports their thoughts with
course readings (internal sources) or other academically
approved sources (external). Biblical integration found.
7 points*
Student’s reply adds some depth to the ongoing conversation
and encourages collaborative discussion among peers in a
thought-provoking way. Student supports their thoughts with
either course readings (internal sources) or other academically
approved sources (external). Biblical integration found.
6 to 1 points*
Student’s reply adds minimal depth to the ongoing conversation
among peers in a thought-provoking way. Student supports their
thoughts with either course readings (internal sources) or other
sources (external). Biblical integration may or may not be
found.
0 points
No second reply was made for this thread.
Structure
Advanced
Proficient

8. Developing
Not present
Thread (5 pts)
Post should be at least 350 words with proper APA formatting
elements and proper grammar and spelling.
5 points*
Post was between 350 and 700 words and exhibited solid APA
formatting of paragraphs, citations and references. No grammar
or spelling issues found.
4 points*
Post was at least 350 words and exhibited only minor APA
formatting issues. Minor grammar or spelling issues found that
do not detract from the reader’s ability to comprehend the post.
3 to 1 points*
Post was between 175 and 350 words. Student attempts to
illustrate proper APA form in the post. Grammar or spelling
issues were notable but did not prevent reader from
understanding the key aspects of the post.
0 points
Post was less than 175 words or did not get posted at all or was
grammatically difficult to follow.
Reply 1 (5 pts)
Reply should be at least 150 words with proper APA formatting
elements and proper grammar and spelling.
5 points*
Reply was between 150 and 300 words and exhibited solid APA
formatting of paragraphs, citation, and references. No grammar
or spelling issues found.
4 points*
Reply was at least 150 words and exhibited only minor APA
formatting issues. Minor grammar or spelling issues found that
do not detract from the reader’s ability to comprehend the post.
3 to 1 points*
Reply was at least 100 words. Student attempts to illustrate
proper APA form in the post. Grammar or spelling issues were
notable but did not prevent the reader from understanding the

9. key aspects of the post.
0 points
Reply was less than 100 words or did not get posted at all or
was grammatically difficult to follow.
Reply 2 (5 pts)
Reply should be at least 150 words with proper APA formatting
elements and proper grammar and spelling.
5 points*
Reply was between 150 and 300 words and exhibited solid APA
formatting of paragraphs, citation, and references. Reply
content is fundamentally different than the first reply. No
grammar or spelling issues found.
4 points*
Reply was at least 150 words and exhibited only minor APA
formatting issues. Minor grammar or spelling issues found that
do not detract from the reader’s ability to comprehend the post.
Reply content was fundamentally different than the first reply.
3 to 1 points*
Reply was at least 100 words. Student attempts to illustrate
proper APA form in the post. Grammar or spelling issues were
notable but did not prevent the reader from understanding the
key aspects of the post. Reply content may or may not be
fundamentally different than first reply.
0 points
Reply was less than 100 words or did not get posted at all or
was grammatically difficult to follow. Reply was simply a
copy/paste of the first reply with little or no content change.
*Please see the Levels of Achievement Points spreadsheet for
standardized point values based off your school/department’s
grading scale.