Narrative for Discussion Grade Calculation Sheet
I assign students into groups and create a separate sheet for each of the four
discussions assigned for the class. Each date for each individual discussion is given
a double column for posts and replies (P, R). When grading, I assign a value of 0, 1,
2, or 3 for the best post and reply on a given date.
Only one post and one reply count for each date to prevent people trying to rush at
the end to fulfill the course requirements. I also only count the best post for the
entire week rather than giving credit for all posts. This is to encourage the students
to reply to previous posts rather than creating new topic lines in an attempt to
increase their discussion counts.
The spreadsheet automatically tracks the number of days the students post and the
quality of their replies. The values of 0, 1, 2, and 3, correspond to point values of 0,
3, 6, and 9 respectively. I could have entered these figures directly, but I find the 0-3
system easier for me to work with when grading.
I have attached the discussion section of the Class Syllabus, as well as the Discussion
Rubric I use in my class to explain how the points are awarded. Essentially, showing
up and posting anything (quality of 0) will earn 16 of 25 points. This equates to a
grade of D, and is awarded for just showing up on the discussion site and,
theoretically, reading the posts.
I’d welcome any comments or suggestions you have about the rubric and the
spreadsheet. It worked to help make things easier for me. I hope it will help you
too.
Thanks,
Anthony Snider (snidera@uncw.edu)
Discussion Section of Syllabus
There are four graded, and one non-graded but mandatory discussion. You must
post to all discussions to pass the class, including the introductory, non-graded
discussion.
Failure to post to all discussions will result in a grade of F for the class.
You are required to post something to the discussions four out of the five days a
discussion is open (please review the dates for each discussion on the Class
Schedule in the Logistics folder).
Note: you must provide at least 1 new posting and 3 replies to different peers for
each discussion. You cannot post three replies to the same person for credit.
Nor can you post replies or new posts only. The idea is to generate a discussion as
part of your online learning experience.
Each of the four graded discussions is worth 25 points, for a total of 100 points.
You will receive 4 points as a base for each day you post to a discussion, up to a
maximum of 16 points. Additional points are assigned based on the overall quality
of the posts you submit.
I divide posts and replies into three classes, based on the quality of the work:
Excellent – 9 points – reserved for posts that are in-depth discussions that
focus on the topic of the discussion and provide good resources to support
the assertions of the comment (sources may be from the book, notes, web,
etc.). You must provide citations in your posts to receive the full 9 points.
These can be web links or formal, full citations of external sources. If I can’t
easily access your sources, the sources don’t count.
Good – 6 points – attributed to those posts that do a good job addressing the
topic and providing substantive, intelligent support for your position.
Fair – 3 points – added little to the discussion, but were at least on topic.
Poor – 0 points – just showed up, added nothing, or were off topic.
I will average your posts for the entire discussion, including zeros for missing posts.
If you post on five days, I will take the average of the highest 4. Again, these points
are added to the 16 possible points for a maximum total per discussion of 25 points.
In an online situation, participation in discussion is critical. You are all unique
students, and the interplay of your interests and experiences is what makes the
online format work for self-guided and motivated students. You must participate
in all discussions to pass the class.
Each graded discussion will open on Monday of the week and will close on Friday.
You must post on 4 of the 5 days the discussion is open. You cannot make up for
days missed by posting additional posts or replies at the end of the week.
As an example, please refer to the table below:
Alfred
Mon Failed to post
Tue
Failed to post
Wed Posted poor reply
Thu
Posted 2 poor replies
Fri
Failed to post
Total
8
Susan
Posted excellent new post
Posted excellent reply
Posted excellent reply
Posted excellent reply
Took the day off
25
Pat
Failed to post
Posted good reply
Posted good reply
Posted good reply
Posted good reply
21
Alfred failed to post an original post, and failed to post on 4 of the 5 days the
discussion was open. Loading two posts on Thursday did not offset his shortcoming.
Susan maximized her points by posting 1excellent new and 3 excellent replies to
different peers. Pat failed to post a new post. Consequently, only three of the
replies counts. She gets 16 points for posting 4 days, but only 5 quality points. Had
she posted a new good post, she would have garnered 22 points.
Again, you must post 4 of 5 days, and must post 1 new post and three replies to
different peers to gain full credit. Discussions count 1/3 of your total grade!
Each discussion will be open for 5 days, beginning at 12:30 am on the opening day
and closing at 11:59 on the final day. Posts on Saturdays and Sundays will not
count towards discussion grades.
Please refer to the Class Schedule for the timing of discussions.
EVS 195 Discussion Rubric
Grades for discussions are based on both the frequency of your participation and the
quality of that participation. You must post 4 of the 5 days the discussion period is
open. One of these must be a new post and you must also post at least three replies
to different peers for each discussion. You will not get credit if you simply wait until
the last day a discussion is open and try to post all four items on that day.
Note that discussions have limited windows of time in which you can participate.
This aspect of the class is designed to supplement the independent work and
consequently requires that all of you participate at roughly the same time. Posting
to a discussion when the rest of the class has moved on is useless to your peers.
Discussions will open at 12:30 am on the starting mornings and will close at 11:59
on the closing dates.
Posting according to the requirements above (once per day, 1 new post, and at least
3 replies to different peers), will earn you a total of 16 out of 25 points. The balance
of the 25 points available for each discussion is awarded based on the quality of
your posts. The following is taken from the Course Grading Scheme.
I divide posts and replies into three classes, based on the quality of the work:
Excellent – 9 points – reserved for posts that are in-depth discussions that
assertions of the comment (sources may be from the book, notes, web, etc.).
You must provide citations in your posts to receive the full 9 points. These
can be web links or formal, full citations of external sources. If I can’t easily
access your sources, the sources don’t count.
Good – 6 points – attributed to those posts that do a good job addressing the
topic and providing substantive, intelligent support for your position.
Fair – 3 points – added little to the discussion, but were at least on topic.
Poor – 0 points – just showed up, added nothing, or were off topic.
To get credit for quality, your responses must be more than “Dude, I agree!” You
must contribute more than just affirmation or negation. Be thoughtful, be creative,
be imaginative. The discussions are the fun part of the class! I look forward to
hearing what you all have to say.
Remember that you must post to all discussions to get credit for the class, including
the first discussion (Discussion 0) and that posts on Saturday and Sunday do not
count.