APUSAssignment

Rubric

UndergraduateLevel

300-400

EXEMPLARY LEVEL

4

ACCOMPLISHED LEVEL

3

DEVELOPING
LEVEL

2

BEGINNNIG LEVEL

1

TOTAL POINTS

FOCUS/THESIS-
10 points

Studentexhibitsa defined and
clearunderstandingof

theassignment.Thesisis
clearlydefinedand well constructedtohelpguide
thereaderthroughoutthe

assignment.Studentbuilds uponthethesisofthe

assignmentwithwell-
documentedand exceptionalsupporting facts,figures,and/or
statements.

Establishesagood
comprehensionof topic

and inthebuildingof the
thesis.Student demonstratesaneffective
presentationof
thesis,with

mostsupportstatements helpingto supportthekey

focusofassignment.

Studentexhibitsa
basic understandingofthe

intendedassignment,but
thethesisisnotfully supportedthroughoutthe assignment.Whilethesis

helpstoguidethe developmentof the

assignment,thereader

mayhavesomedifficultyin
seeinglinkagesbetween thoughts.Whilestudent hasincludedafew
supportingfactsand
statements,thishas

limitedthequalityofthe assignment.

Exhibitsa
limited
understandingofthe

assignment.Readeris unabletofollowthelogic
usedforthethesisand
developmentof key

themes.Introductionof thesisisnotclearly

evident,andreadermust
lookdeepertodiscover the
focusofthe writer.
Student’swritingisweak intheinclusionof

supportingfactsor

statements.

10

CONTENT/SUBJECT

KNOWLEDGE-20 points

Studentdemonstrates
proficientcommandof the

subjectmatterinthe

assignment.Assignment
showsan impressivelevel
ofdepthof student’sability torelatecoursecontentto practicalexamplesand
applications.Student
providescomprehensive
analysisofdetails,facts, andconceptsina logical
sequence.

Studentexhibitsabove averageusageofsubject

matterinassignment.

Studentprovidesabove averageabilityin relating coursecontentinexamplesgiven.Details andfactspresented providean
adequate presentationofstudent’s currentlevelofsubject matterknowledge.

Theassignmentreveals
thatthestudenthas a

general,fundamental

understandingofthe

coursematerial.Whereas,
thereareareasofsome concerninginthelinkages
providedbetweenfacts

andsupporting statements.Student
generallyexplains concepts,butonlymeets

theminimumrequirements inthisarea.

Studenttriestoexplain someconcepts,but

overlookscriticaldetails.

Assignmentappears vagueorincompletein
varioussegments.
Studentpresents conceptsin isolation,

anddoesnotperceiveto havea
logical sequencingof
ideas.

20

CRITICALTHINKING
SKILLS-20 points

Studentdemonstratesa higher-levelofcritical

thinkingnecessaryfor300-

400 levelwork.Learner
providesastrategic

Studentexhibitsa good
commandof critical

thinkingskills inthe presentationof
material
andsupporting

Studenttakesacommon, conventionalapproachin

guidingthereaderthrough variouslinkagesand connectionspresentedin

Studentdemonstrates beginningunderstanding

ofkeyconcepts,but
overlookscriticaldetails.
Learneris unableto

20

approachinpresenting

examplesofproblem solvingorcriticalthinking, whiledrawinglogical
conclusionswhicharenot immediatelyobvious.
Studentprovideswell- supportedideasand reflectionwitha
varietyof currentand/orworldviews intheassignment.Student
presentsa genuine intellectualdevelopmentof
ideasthroughout assignment.

statements.Assignment

demonstratesthestudent’saboveaverageuseofrelatingconceptsbyusingavarietyoffactors.
Overall,
studentprovides
adequateconclusions,

with2 orfewererrors.

assignment.However,

studentpresentsalimited perspectiveonkey conceptsthroughout
assignment.Student appearstohaveproblems
applyinginformationina
problem-solving
manner.

applyinformationina

problem-solving
fashion. Studentpresents confusingstatements
andfactsinassignment.
Noevidenceorlittle semblanceofcritical thinkingskills.

ORGANIZATIONOF

IDEAS/FORMAT-20 points

Studentthoroughly

understandsandexcelsin explainingallmajorpoints.
Anoriginal,unique,and/or imaginativeapproachto overallideas,concepts,
andfindingsis
presented. Overallformatof assignmentincludesan

appropriateintroduction(or abstract),well-developed paragraphs,and conclusion.Finished
assignmentdemonstrates
student’sabilitytoplanand organizeresearchina logicalsequence.

Studentexplainsthe

majorityofpointsand
conceptsinthe assignment.Learner
demonstratesa goodskill levelin
formattingand
organizingmaterialin
assignment.Student presentsanabove averagelevelof preparedness,withafew formattingerrors.

Learnerappliessome

pointsandconcepts incorrectly.Studentuses a
varietyofformatting styles,withsome

inconsistenciesthroughout the
paper.Assignment
doesnothavea

continuouspatternof
logicalsequencing..

Assignmentreveals

formattingerrorsanda lackoforganization.
Studentpresentsan
incomplete
attemptto providelinkagesor
explanationofkey terms.Thelackof
appropriatereferences
orsourcematerials demonstratesthe
student’sneedfor
additionalhelpor
trainingin
thisarea.

Studentneedstoreview andrevisethe assignment.

20

WRITING CONVENTIONS

(GRAMMAR&
MECHANICS)-15
points

Studentdemonstratesan excellentcommandof

grammar,aswellas presentsresearchinaclear
andconcisewritingstyle. Presentsathorough,

Studentprovidesan
effectivedisplayofgood

writingandgrammar. Assignmentreflects student’sabilitytoselect appropriatewordusage

Assignmentreflectsbasic writingandgrammar,but

morethan5errors.Key
termsandconceptsare somewhatvagueandnot completelyexplainedby

Topics,concepts,and
ideasarenotcoherently

discussedorexpressed inassignments. Student’swritingstyle is
weakandneeds

15

extensiveunderstandingof

wordusage.Student
excelsintheselectionand developmentofa
well- plannedresearch assignment.Assignmentis error-freeandreflects student’sabilitytoprepare

a high-qualityacademic
assignment.

andpresentanabove

averagepresentationofa
giventopicorissue.
Assignmentappearstobe
well writtenwithnomore
than3-5errors.Student
providesafinalwritten
productthatcoversthe
above-minimal requirements.

student.Studentusesa

basicvocabularyin assignment.Student’s
writingabilityis average,
butdemonstratesabasic understandingofthe
subjectmatter.

improvement,alongwith

numerousproofreading errors.Assignment
lacksclarity, consistency,and correctness.Student
needstoreviewand
reviseassignment.

USEOFCOMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY/

APPLICATIONS-15
points

Studentprovidesahigh-
caliber,formatted assignment.Learner

exhibitsexcellentuseof computertechnologyinthe developmentof assignment.Qualityand
appropriatenessofstated

referencesdemonstrate
the student’sabilitytouse technologytoconduct
applicableresearch.Given
assignmentincludes
appropriateword processing,spreadsheet
and/orothercomputer
applicationsaspartofthe finalproduct.

Assignmentpresentsan
above-averageuseof
formattingskills,withless

than3 errors.Students
hasagoodcommandof computerapplicationsto formatinformationand/or figuresinanappropriate format.Studentusesat leasttwotypesof computerapplicationsto produceaquality assignment.

Studentdemonstratesa
basicknowledgeof
computerapplications.

Appearanceoffinal
assignmentdemonstrates
thestudent’slimitedability
toformatandpresentdata. Resourcesused
in assignmentare
limited.
Studentmayneedto

obtainfurtherhelpinthe
useof computer applicationsandInternet
research.

Studentneedsto

developbetterformatting skills.Thestudentmay
needtotakeadditional trainingorobtainhelp from
theEducatorHelp
Desk whilepreparingan

assignment.Research

andresourcespresented
intheassignmentare
limited.Studentneeds

toexpandresearch
scope.Thenumberof
formattingerrorsis
not acceptable.

15

TOTALPOINTS

100.0