Comparative Politics Today Course Political Science I Unit III Impact of Globalization on Political Ideology Essential Question What are the political ideologies of emerging nations throughout the world? TEKS §130.183(c) (4)(A)(B) Prior Student Learning Political Ideologies Estimated Time 2 to 3 hours Rationale Effective political scientists stay up-to-date on international politics. This lesson introduces students to comparative politics and to the skill of keeping current. Objectives The students will be able to: 1. Compare current international political ideologies 2. Debate foreign policy Engage Select images from a historical event (i.e. genocide in Darfur, Syrian Conflict, fall of the Soviet Union, etc.) to stimulate a class discussion. Focus the discussion on whether social policies or economic policies have more of an effect on a nation’s society. Have the students reflect on their opinions before and after the discussion to see if their perspectives change. Use the Discussion Rubric for assessment. Key Points I. What are the current political ideologies in the US? A. Political culture 1. Individualism is one of the most widely held beliefs in the US a) Individualism – a belief that emphasizes the role of the individual voter or consumer, typically associated with the rise of democracy in the West (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) b) Supported by the perception that anything can be achieved through hard work c) Leads many Americans to believe that there is little need for the government to provide assistance through social-service programs (1) 35 million Americans are in poverty despite working on a regular basis (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) 2. Political apathy a) Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba identify this concept as civic culture (1) Civic culture – a culture which is characterized by trust, legitimacy, and limited involvement, which some theorists believe is most conducive to democracy (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) b) Although there are plenty of avenues for political involvement, very few Americans become political activists c) Since the 1950s, Americans’ faith in politicians has declined dramatically (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) B. Political participation 1. The most common form of political participation in the US is voting 1 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. a) Most Americans vote in presidential and/or congressional elections 2. The US is a two-party system a) Two-party system – consists of two parties that are highly competitive with one another and, taken together, win almost all the votes and offices in elections b) The Democrats and Republicans have been the two dominant parties in the US since the 1850s c) There were notable challenges to the Republican and Democrat candidates in the 1992 (H. Ross Perot) and 2000 (Ralph Nader) presidential elections C. Public policy 1. Economic a) Congress is responsible for appropriating money to federal agencies (i.e. education, defense, transportation) b) A person’s political ideology typically suggests his or her opinion about the ideal amount of government participation in the personal lives of citizens c) America has a laissez-faire approach to business and the economy (1) Laissez-faire – the ideology that the government should not intervene into business affairs (2) Believes that the private sector should operate freely without major restrictions from the government (3) The private sector is responsible for the production of all goods manufactured in the US d) The federal government does regulate the private sector in some ways, such as through taxes, bankruptcy, and anti-trust laws 2. Social a) Politicians continually argue about the role the federal government should play in the personal lives of citizens b) People’s opinions about this vary because of their political ideologies c) Social policies continue to evolve over time and will continue to change as time progresses; here are two examples from 2013 (1) The Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for states to ban same-sex marriage (2) Many states passed anti-abortion legislation II. What are the current political ideologies of Iran? A. Political culture 1. Most political scientists have been unable to do field research in Iran since 1979, which caused a) Gaps in the information about Iran’s political culture b) Many political scientists to assume that the political culture is 2 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. very polarizing 2. Since the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, Iran has become very nationalistic a) Shah – the title for the monarchs of Iran prior to the Iranian Revolution in 1979 b) Most Iranians are considered Shi’ite Muslims (1) Shi’ite Muslims typically support the conservative version of Islam that has been widely practiced in Iran since 1979 (2) Many of Iran’s extremist groups have stemmed from the Shi’ite branch of Islam c) In recent years, the Islamic Left has gained support and created many reformist groups within the country 3. Iran is surprisingly liberal a) Two-thirds of Iran’s population is under the age of 30, and it is becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Orthodox Shi’ite mentality (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) b) Younger Iranians are more secular and may partake in activities that are forbidden by the government, such as (1) Wearing makeup (2) Watching foreign television shows and movies B. Political participation 1. Iran considers itself a strong authoritarian regime with varying amounts of democracy a) By Middle Eastern standards, Iran has one of the freest electoral systems in the region b) Iranians have had the opportunity to vote in nine different presidential elections 2. All citizens in Iran over the age of 18 are eligible to vote a) Prior to the 2005 presidential election, the voting age in Iran was 15 3. Election campaigns in Iran are only one week long and candidates are allowed only to circulate campaign literature that is four by six inches in size a) Elections are non-partisan (i.e. the candidate’s political party is not listed on the election ballot) b) Any candidate who wins a plurality of twenty-five percent in the first round of elections is declared the winner of the election c) If a candidate does not receive a plurality in the first round, the top two candidates participate in a second round several months later C. Political parties 1. Iran has thirty-four political parties (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) 2. Iran is divided into twenty-eight different constituencies, which are allocated seats based on their population a) This is similar to the structure of the US House of Representatives 3 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 3. Prior to running, all candidates must submit their names to the Guardian Council for approval a) The Guardian Council (1) Is selected by the authoritative body of Iran; its members are not elected (2) Screens potential candidates (a) Approves candidates to run in the elections (b) Disapproves candidates it considers too radical or candidates it thinks have no chance of winning b) The Constitution of Iran mandates that all candidates meet a certain criteria (1) Under the age of seventy-five (2) Have a university degree (3) Have a belief and commitment to the practice of Islam c) There is no dominant political party, because the authoritarian regime has most of the political power D. Public policy 1. Economic a) Economy is the most important issue to Iran’s long-term future b) The wealth of Iran comes from one industry: oil (1) Iran holds seven percent of the world’s oil reserves (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) c) When the citizens overthrew the Shah in 1979, Iran lost one of its largest economic supporters, the US (1) The US has also enforced trade sanctions that prohibit certain Western countries from trading with Iran d) The private sector within Iran is almost non-existent (1) Ultimate responsibility and operation of business lies with the supreme leader (2) The title for the supreme leader is Ayatollah e) Because businesses are operated by the Ayatollah, they are opposed to outside investments or foreign involvement 2. Faith and Gender a) Iran is a theocracy (1) Theocracy – a form of government in which a clergy exercises supreme power and ideally all laws are grounded in religion and are believed to express the will of God (2) The supreme leader is also a religious leader (3) Theocracies are extremely rare (4) Another example is Vatican City b) Public policy is predominantly driven by the principles of Islam c) Many of Iran’s social policies are biased against females (1) Only ten percent of Iran’s workforce is made up of females (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) 4 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. (2) Women must wear a head scarf, veil, and coat that cover their entire bodies (3) Women are often arrested if their bodies are not properly covered III. What are the current political ideologies of Russia? A. Political culture and participation 1. Russia (previously known as the Soviet Union) suffered under decades of Communist rule a) The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and left Russia in a state of political despair b) The underlying political culture has not significantly changed since the shift to a new regime (1) Most Russians, who were alive during the old regime, continue to want the state to provide critical services with regard to social and economic programs c) Russian demographics are changing; younger, urban, and well-educated citizens are beginning to support more liberal values 2. Political involvement a) The number of interest groups and political organizations in Russia have increased in the past several years b) These groups have little influence because they must submit to a strenuous registration process that delays their ability to operate legally B. Political parties 1. The Party System a) Following the Communist period, Russia instituted the Floating Party System (1) Floating Party System – describes the scattered party identification of Russian citizens (2) It is very unstable, which has made the transition to a democratic regime difficult b) Russians are not party loyal and change their political opinions from one election to the next (1) This has stabilized some during recent elections because of Vladimir Putin (2) This does not mean that Russia is becoming a more effective democracy c) Putin forced laws that make it impossible for smaller political parties to get on to the ballot in elections d) Putin has reshaped the party system into one that can be easily manipulated and controlled by the central government 2. United Russia a) Is a political party that was founded by Vladimir Putin in 1999 b) Is not a typical political party because it is not defined by its stance on divisive issues 5 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. (1) Russians refer to United Russia as the “Party of Power” (2) It was not created to defend policy proposals or ideologies (3) It was created to promote the interests of the current leadership c) Vladmir Putin and United Russia controlled the Russian Presidency until 2008, when Putin left office after serving the maximum two terms (1) Russian president – guarantor of the constitution and the head of state in the Russian political system d) In 2008, Dmitiri Medvedev was elected President of Russia and appointed Putin as Prime Minister of Russia (1) Prime Minister – the chief minister of a state C. Public policy 1. Economic a) Presents the most problematic policy issues for Russia b) The primary challenge is the transition from a centrally planned economy to a free market with private ownership (1) This began with the collapse of the Soviet Union (2) This is difficult because there are no historical examples of economic transition to reference c) Post-communist economic policy initially revolved around a struggle between two groups (1) The Reformers (a) Included most professional economists (b) Stressed the importance of a rapid and complete shift to a market economy (c) Agreed that the short-term costs would be tremendous, but the long-term effects would be beneficial (2) The Conservatives (a) Consisted mostly of the members of the former Communist party (b) Wanted a much slower transition, arguing that capitalism was not all that successful in the West (c) Tried to create a welfare state that would cushion the impact of Capitalism d) The Russian economy has increased by seven percent in the last decade (Hauss &Haussman, 2013) (1) Economists are skeptical of the increase due to uncertainty about the level of participation by the central government in private industry 2. Foreign a) From post-World War II until 1991, Russia (the Soviet Union) was one of the world’s two superpowers b) After the collapse of the Soviet Union (1) Russia played a minor role in international affairs 6 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. (2) Fourteen independent states were developed It was difficult for the US and other Western countries to adapt to post-communist Russia (1) The US felt that Russia was less of a threat than the former Soviet Union but continued to distance itself from Russia’s domestic affairs d) Due to low morale and minimal funds, the Russian government had no fighting force beyond its own borders (1) As a result, Russia agreed with the US requests to (a) Dismantle more than one-third of its nuclear arsenal (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) (b) Stop targeting the US e) The relationship between Russia and the US began to flounder in 2003 when the Russian government did not support the US-led Iraqi invasion (1) Russia does not support the US’s current stance that Iran is a global threat (2) The Russian government does not support the war on terrorism f) Overall, Russia and the US are continuing to build a positive political relationship but continue to disagree about involvement in foreign affairs c) IV. What are the current political ideologies of China? A. Political culture and participation 1. Historical impacts a) China was ruled primarily by dynasties for thousands of years (1) Citizens’ political values were almost non-existent (2) The majority of citizens were only involved in the political process by paying taxes and fighting in wars b) Chinese politics were reinforced by Confucian values (1) Group loyalty (2) Conflict avoidance (3) Acceptance of one’s place in the social hierarchy c) The Chinese Communist Revolution began in 1949 (1) Overthrew the dynasty (2) Ushered the Chinese Communist Party d) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) (1) Founded on the ideologies of Marxism (2) Modeled aspects of its government’s structure after the Soviet Union (3) Took total control of the media, the educational system, and the economy (4) Was based on four key elements (a) Collectivism – loyalty to the CCP and the Party State (b) Struggle and activism – people must participate with and serve the goals of the CCP 7 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. (c) Egalitarianism and populism – abolishment of a social hierarchy; the people should volunteer to serve the country as a whole (d) Self-reliance – people control their own destinies e) Mao Zedong became the leader of the CCP and the founding father of the People’s Republic of China (1) Since Mao’s death in 1976, the CCP has drastically scaled back its efforts to control public opinion and the political culture 2. Changing political values a) A blend of traditional and contemporary values was evident in the Democracy Movement in 1989 b) Thousands of students protested the CCP in Tiananmen Square, demanding the creation of democratic institutions within communist China (1) These students were attacked by military officials (2) Hundreds of students were killed, which halted the movement c) Recently the CCP has allowed more political expression by releasing some of its control of the media and education d) Even though China is expanding its socio-political values, the CCP remains a centrally planned government that (1) Bans access to certain Internet websites (2) Attempts to ban social networking websites (3) Lacks rights for women and laborers B. Political parties 1. The CCP a) Has dominated Chinese politics since 1949 b) Has more than 70 million members (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) c) Is a changing political party that has leaders who are (1) Working to change the party’s composition (2) Attempting to modernize by recruiting citizens regardless of class or ideological commitment (a) In 2001, the CCP announced that it would allow capitalists to join (b) By 2004, more than a one-fourth of CCP members were considered entrepreneurs (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) C. Public policy 1. Economic a) Since Mao’s death (1976) (1) The Chinese economy changed drastically; many do not consider China a socialist economy anymore (2) The CCP enacted three reforms that boosted the Chinese economy (a) Private property can have a useful role in a socialist 8 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. economy (b) Market forces should be used to allocate goods and services, and to determine prices (c) Material incentives, including higher wages, personal profit, and the accumulation of wealth, should be the primary means to boost productivity and efficiency b) China is now considered a socialist market economy (1) Socialist market economy – a blend of a capitalist and a government-controlled economy; it allows for foreign investors, private entrepreneurs, and a stock market but is still closely monitored by the centrally organized government c) China’s economic growth is (1) Concentrated in major urban areas (2) Influenced heavily by the CCP (3) Dominated by foreign investment 2. Foreign a) China during Mao’s reign (1) Was an enemy of the US that consistently attacked capitalist powers around the world (2) Supported third-world militants and radical groups that fought against colonialism and capitalist regimes b) Since the 1970s (1) The relationship between China and the US (and other Western countries) has improved (2) China’s foreign policy has made tremendous progress (a) China became a member of the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) (i) The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 drew China and the US closer together (ii) China was concerned about the spread of AlQaeda and terrorist networks throughout China (b) China was a major participant in the “six party talks” that convinced North Korea to suspend its nuclear weapons and power program (3) Overall, China has developed relationships with most Western countries, and a war between China and other world powers is not a current concern V. How do conflicting ideologies affect international foreign relations? A. Conflict and globalization 1. Globalization – the interdependence of countries; the volume and value of imports and exports, transfers of capital, international communication, and the extent of foreign travel and immigration (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) 2. The nature of conflict has changed with the pace of globalization a) Traditionally, international conflict is identity-based, 9 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. concerning issues such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and language b) Many wars and conflicts have begun as a result of identitybased issues, including (1) The Holocaust – the ethnic cleansing of Jewish people throughout Europe (2) The Iranian Hostage Situation – the revolt of Islamic militants against US citizens in Iran (3) The Genocide in Darfur – the genocide occurring in the northern African nation of Sudan c) The role of social media has drastically changed the global environment (1) Social networking sites played a part in getting protesters to demonstrations in Iran and in the Arab Spring of 2011 B. A new era of foreign relations 1. Peacekeeping organizations a) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) works to maintain peace in countries around the world b) The UN provides an outlet for peaceful negotiations and compromises, even though its members have differing ideological platforms; for example (1) In 2005, in order to avoid armed conflict, the UN imposed economic sanctions on Iran for its development of nuclear weapons and power (2) China and Russia did not support the sanctions and disagreed with the US and Great Britain about the situation 2. Economic relationships a) A global economy has created an extensive network of businesses that connects the world financially b) Because most of the major countries are financially interconnected, they are less likely to engage in a conflict or war; for example (1) Although China and the US have social and ideological differences, their economic relationship prohibits conflicts from occurring Activities Public Policy Research Debate – Divide the class into five groups. Assign each group one of the following countries: the US, Russia, Iran, China, or India. Have the students research the foreign policy of their assigned country. Topics for research can include: nuclear proliferation, trade, and human rights. Then have the students debate about foreign policy issues on behalf of their assigned countries. Use the Cooperative Teams Rubric and the Debate Rubric for assessment. Assessments 10 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. Comparative Politics Today Quiz and Key Cooperative Teams Rubric Debate Rubric Discussion Rubric Individual Work Rubric Research Rubric Materials Comparative Politics Today computer-based presentation Comparative Politics Today Key Terms Computers with Internet access or other research resources Resources Almond, G., Dalton, R., Powell, B., & Strom, K. (2008). Comparative politics today. (9 ed.). New York City: Pearson Longman. Hauss, C., & Haussman, M. (2013). Comparative politics. (8 ed.). Boston: Wadsworth Cenage. Accommodations for Learning Differences For reinforcement, students will create a Venn Diagram indicating the differences and similarities between each country’s stances on foreign, public, and economic policy. Use the Individual Work Rubric for assessment. For enrichment, students will write a 2-3 page research paper about the functions of the United Nations and the role it plays in international society. Use the Research Rubric for assessment. State Education Standards Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education §130.183. Political Science I (One to Two Credits). (4) The student applies the concepts learned in the history and ideology of political science. The student is expected to: (A) make observations regarding the political culture of emerging nations or those with recent current events; and (B) complete a project or presentation about the political culture of a researched country. College and Career Readiness Standards Social Studies Standards IV. Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Information D. Reaching conclusions 1. Construct a thesis that is supported by evidence. 2. Recognize and evaluate counter-arguments. 11 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. Comparative Politics Today Key Terms Civic culture – a culture that is characterized by trust, legitimacy, and limited involvement, which some theorists believe is most conducive to democracy (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) Globalization – the interdependence of countries; the volume and value of imports and exports, transfers of capital, international communication, and the extent of foreign travel and immigration (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) Individualism – a belief that emphasizes the role of the individual voter or consumer, typically associated with the rise of democracy in the West (Hauss & Haussman, 2013) Laissez-faire – the ideology that the government should not intervene into business affairs Political culture – the attitudes, beliefs, and values of the people in a country Prime Minister – the chief minister of a state Shah – the title for the monarchs in Iran prior to the Iranian Revolution in 1979 Socialist market economy – a blend of a capitalist and a government-controlled economy; it allows for foreign investors, private entrepreneurs, and a stock market but is still closely monitored by the centrally organized government Theocracy – a form of government in which a clergy exercises supreme power and ideally all laws are grounded in religion and are believed to express the will of God Two-party system – one of two parties are highly competitive with one another and, taken together win, almost all the votes and offices in elections 12 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. Name________________________________ Date__________________________ Comparative Politics Today Quiz 1. _____Which of the following is the guarantor of the constitution and the head of state in the Russian political system? A. Czar B. Prime Minister C. President D. Supreme Leader 2. _____The relationship between political and economic factors in contemporary China can be characterized as which of the following? A. Undergoing simultaneous political and economic reform B. Undergoing economic reform but retaining political control C. Furthering the goals of economic conservatism and political conservatism D. Remaining stagnant, both politically and economically 3. _____Political structures that develop, reinforce, and transform attitudes of political significance in the society are part of which of the following? A. Political recruitment B. Political socialization C. Political policies D. Political outcomes 4. _____When states and nations do not coincide, the result is often which of the following? A. Political conflict B. Economic development C. Democracy D. A stronger political culture 5. _____The legitimacy of traditional political authority in China historically rested on the moral doctrine of which of the following? A. Shintoism B. Confucianism C. Family obligation D. Theocracy 6. _____Political culture refers to which of the following? A. Stable habits and traditions B. Levels of political participation C. Social and cultural patterns of behavior D. Citizens’ orientations towards the political system 13 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 7. _____Which of the following countries is has a theocratic form of government? A. Iraq B. Russia C. North Korea D. Vatican City 8. _____In what year did the Soviet Union collapse, leaving the country in political despair? A. 1989 B. 1990 C. 1991 D. 1992 9. _____The US political system is identified as which of the following? A. Two-party system B. Centrally planned system C. Theocratic system D. Parliamentary system 10. _____Public policy in Iran is predominantly driven by which of the following principles? A. Economic B. Social C. Islamic D. Shah 11. _____Globalization can be best defined as which of the following? A. A belief that emphasizes the role of the individual voter or consumer, typically associated with the rise of democracy in the West B. A nature of conflict between countries whose political ideologies differ C. An economy that is a blend of both a capitalist and a government controlled economy D. The interdependence of countries; the volume and value of imports and exports, transfers of capital, international communication, and the extent of foreign travel and immigration 12. _____Which of the following organizations is an international peacekeeping organization? A. The United Nations (UN) B. The World Trade Organization (WTO) C. The European Union (EU) D. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) 13. _____Which of the following is not a true statement about political socialization? A. It can occur in different ways B. It is solely controlled by the government C. It is a lifelong process D. It can unify or divide a society 14 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 14. _____Traditionally, international conflict is based on issues that are which of the following? A. Identity-based B. Economically-based C. Socially-based D. Politically-based 15. _____According to Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba, a civic culture has which of the following characteristics? A. Trust B. Legitimacy C. Limited involvement D. All of the above 16. _____Since 1979, the title for the religious leader of Iran is which of the following? A. Shah B. Prime Minister C. President D. Ayatollah 17. _____Which of the following is not a main element of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)? A. Collectivism B. Egalitarianism C. Individualism D. Populism 18. _____The CCP was structured with the ideologies of which of the following? A. Karl Marx B. Vladimir Lenin C. Joseph Stalin D. Vladimir Putin 19. _____The agent of socialization in the US that is most responsible for shaping attitudes toward authority is which of the following? A. Family B. School C. Media D. Political party 20. _____How many independent states were developed after the collapse of the Soviet Union? A. 11 B. 12 C. 13 D. 14 15 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. Comparative Politics Today Quiz Key 1. C 2. B 3. B 4. A 5. B 6. D 7. D 8. C 9. A 10. C 11. D 12. A 13. B 14. A 15. D 16. D 17. C 18. A 19. A 20. D 16 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. Name: ____________________________________ Date:_____________________________ Cooperative Teams Rubric Objectives 4 pts. Excellent 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement Participates in group discussions Encourages others to join the conversation Maintains the pace of the discussion to achieve goals Shares ideas and thoughts Offers constructive criticism and recommendations Credits others for their contributions and ideas Empathizes with others Requests input from others to reach an agreement Expresses ideas and thoughts Total Points (36 pts.) Comments: Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. N/A Pts. Name:____________________________________ Date:_____________________________________ Debate Rubric Objectives 4 pts. Excellent 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement Information Clear, accurate and thorough Facts, statistics and/or examples used to support major points. Communication Respectful body language Respectful responses Focused/On-topic Sarcasm avoided Participation Full participation Attentive listening Total Points (32 pts.) Comments: Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. N/A Pts. Name_______________________________________ Date_______________________________ Discussion Rubric Objectives 4 pts. Excellent 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement Participates in group discussion Encourages others to join the conversation Keeps the discussion progressing to achieve goals Shares thoughts actively while offering helpful recommendations to others Gives credit to others for their ideas Respects the opinions of others Involves others by asking questions or requesting input Expresses thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively Total Points (32 pts.) Comments: Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement N/A Pts. Name______________________________________ Date_______________________________________ Individual Work Rubric 4 pts. Excellent Objectives 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement Follows directions Student completed the work as directed, following the directions given, in order and to the level of quality indicated Time management Student used time wisely and remained on task 100% of the time Organization Student kept notes and materials in a neat, legible, and organized manner. Information was readily retrieved Evidence of learning Student documented information in his or her own words and can accurately answer questions related to the information retrieved *Research/Gathering information (if relevant) Student used a variety of methods and sources to gather information. Student took notes while gathering information Total Points (20 pts.) Comments: Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement N/A Pts. Name______________________________________ Date_______________________________________ Research Rubric 4 pts. Excellent Objectives 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement Question/goal Student identified and communicated a question or goal of the research Research/Gathering information (if relevant) Student used a variety of methods and sources to gather information. Student took notes while gathering information Conclusion/Summary Student drew insightful conclusions and observations from the information gathered. Information is organized in a logical manner Communication Student communicated the information gathered and summary or conclusions persuasively. Student demonstrated skill in the use of media used to communicate the results of research Reflection Student reflected on the importance of the research and its potential application Total Points (20 pts.) Comments: Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement N/A Pts.