Thought Circus Assessment Rubric
Name_________________
Per___________ Date________
Total Points: _____/80
Individual Task Element Scores: #1___ #2____ #3 ____ #4____ #5___ #6___ #7___ #8____
Stations
Insufficient
0-1 points
Provides
Research
insufficient
Students must find
summary of a
information on a scientific
scientific concept
concept in the book. For
that stems from
instance, the nature of
the book.
starvation or the
psychological effect of the Uses a invalid source
natural world on the human sources to inform the
psyche. They must record theconcept.
information on a class Google
Records no
doc and include all
bibliographical information. bibliographical
information in APA
format.
Poetry
Students must write a 10
line poem illustrating a
transcendentalist theme
from the book. They must
utilize two poetic devices
in the piece.
Sufficient
2-5 points
Provides a
summary or direct
quote only of a
scientific concept
that stems from
the book.
Uses at least one
sources to inform the
concept.
Records little of the
bibliographical
information in APA
format.
Proficient
6-8 points
Provides a general
paraphrase of a
scientific concept
that stems from the
book.
Distinguished
9-10 points
Provides a
precise
paraphrase of a
scientific concept
that stems from
the book.
Uses at least one sources
to inform the concept.
Uses at least two
sources to inform the
concept.
Records most the
bibliographical
information in APA
Records all the
format.
bibliographical
information in APA
format.
Poem barely
illustrates theme
Poem illustrates
theme
Poem proficiently
illustrates theme
Poem eloquently
illustrates theme
Is at least 8 lines
Is at least 8 lines
Is at least 10 lines
Is at least 10
lines
Attempts to use
one poetic
devices but it’s
cliché.
Use one poetic
devices in an
adequate manner
Use two poetic
devices in an
adequate manner
1
Use two poetic
devices in a
nuanced and
proficient manner
Vocabulary
Students will identify a
vocabulary word from the
text and add it to the
Vocabulary Powerpoint.
They must include all
definitions of the word, a
sentence in context,
synonyms and antonyms,
and a concept picture.
Finds the
definition of
the word
Finds the
definition of
the word
Finds most of
the definitions
of the word
Finds all of
the definitions
of the word
Uses it in a
sentence but
it doesn’t
make sense
Uses it in a
sentence
Uses it in a
sentence in
context
Uses it in a
sentence in
context
Identifies most
antonyms and
synonyms
Identifies all
antonyms and
synonyms
Posts an
adequate
concept picture
Posts an
outstanding
concept
picture
Doesn’t
Identify an
antonym or
synonym
Identifies an
antonym and
synonym
Posts an concept
picture
Posts an
inadequate
concept
picture
.
Art Collage
Students can use a
combination of paint and
collage to illustrate a
character from the book.
They must write a brief
explanation on the back.
The collage is an
illustration of the
character
Uses at least one
elements (image,
color, etc)
Doesn’t writes an
explanation of the
concept on the
back
TED Talk
Students will watch a brief
TED talk video and write a
reader response journal on
how it relates to the themes
in the book.
Doesn’t make a
connection
between the video
and the book
The collage is an
illustration of the
character or his
significance to the
book.
Uses at least two
elements (image,
color, etc)
The collage is an
adequate illustration
of the character’s
complexity or
significance to the
book.
Uses at least two
elements (image,
color, etc)
Writes an
unsatisfactory
explanation of the
concept on the
back
Writes an
explanation of
the concept on
the back
Writes a weak
journal on the
connection between
the video and the
book
Writes an adequate
journal on the
connection between
the video and the
book
2
The collage is an
exceptional
illustration of the
character’s
complexity or
significance to the
book.
Uses at least three
elements (image,
color, etc)
Writes an concise
explanation of the
concept on the
back
Writes a concise
journal on the
connection
between the video
and the book
Gives an
microscope read
from the book.
Gives an
microscope read
from the book.
Doesn’t give a
explanation of the
significance of the
literary device,
character, scene
or image in the
analysis
Gives a insufficient
explanation of the
significance of the
literary device,
character, scene
or image in the
analysis
Graffiti Wall
On butcher paper, students
will comment on the essential
question of the book: was
Alex a hero or a fool? They
must reference evidences
from the book. They must
write their names by the
comments.
Makes an
inadequate
argument
Makes an
argument
Makes an adequate
argument
Makes an
insightful argument
Uses no evidence
Uses one piece of
evidence
Uses two pieces
of evidence
Uses three pieces
of evidence
SHIFTT
Students will read and do a
SHIFT analysis on a short
Emerson poem that
illustrates a theme from the
book then write a reader
response journal determining
the connection between the
two.
Attempts a
SHIFTT analysis
of the poem.
Makes a mediocre
SHIFTT analysis of
the poem.
Makes an adequate
SHIFTT analysis of
the poem.
Makes a thorough
SHIFTT analysis
of the poem.
Doesn’t write a
journal on the
connection to the
book
Writes a weak
journal on the
connection to the
book
Writes an
adequate journal
on the connection
to the book
Writes a concise
journal on the
connection to the
book
Microscope Reading
Students will pull a
microscope reading from
their annotations and
record their analysis. They
will write the evidence,
along with their names and
page number on a Google
Doc.
3
Gives an adequate
microscope read
from the book.
Gives an sufficient
explanation of the
significance of the
literary device,
character, scene or
image in the
analysis
Gives an insightful
microscope read
from the book.
Gives a precise
explanation of the
significance of the
literary device,
character, scene
or image in the
analysis.
4
5