US History Class Debate: Scoring Rubric
Participation
5
4
3
2
1
Accurate Info
Depth & Detail
Critical Thinking
Very active participation in debate
discussion. Student offers more
than 3 valuable comments. Very
“memorable verbal additions” to the
conversation.
All ideas presented are factually
correct and logical considering unit
content; student clearly has
command of course knowledge.
Thorough explanation of ideas;
clear and detailed use of
supporting evidence.
Student participation demonstrates
highly complex thought. Synthesis
of ideas is obvious. Sophisticated
and/or insightful interpretation of
the issues.
Student speech and body language
is always respectful. Student
always listens to others and does
not interrupt. Works with team
appropriately for the best
discussion.
Active participation in debate
discussion. Student offers at least
3 valuable comments. “Memorable
verbal additions” to the
conversation.
Most ideas presented are factually
correct and logical considering unit
content; student shows knowledge
of most course ideas.
Sufficient explanation of ideas;
uses supporting evidence
appropriately, but lacks detail
and/or clarity.
Student participation demonstrates
complex thought . Synthesis of
ideas is less obvious, however
insight is shown. Clear
interpretation of issues.
Student speech and body language
is mostly respectful. Student
mostly listens to others and does
not interrupt. Works with team
appropriately for the best
discussion.
Shallow explanation of ideas;
several statements lack evidence
of clear supporting detail.
Student participation demonstrates
thought that is average complexity.
Shallow/average synthesis and
insight shown. Student struggles to
interpret the issues.
Student speech and body language
sometimes lacks respect. OR
Student sometimes fails to listen to
others/ interrupts. OR Student does
not share work with his/her team.
Very little explanation of ideas
and/or support that is given is
vague or confusing to the
audience.
Student participaton t demonstrates
little complex thought. Little show
of synthesis and insight. Merely
surface interpretations, if any
shown.
Student participated in debate
discussion, but not actively.
Student offered fewer than 3
valuable comments.
Some ideas presented are factually
correct and logical considering unit
content OR 1-2 major fallacies
presented; student shows below
average command of course
facts/ideas.
Student minorly participated in the
debate discussion. Student offered
1-2 valuable comments.
Several ideas presented are
factually incorrect and/or illogical;
student shows significant
deficiencies in command of course
facts/ideas.
Student hardly participated in the
debate discussion at all. Student
offered no valuable comments
during the whole debate.
Almost no ideas presented are
factually correct or logical
considering unit content; student
shows severe deficiencies in
command of course facts/ideas.
Team Points:______ (5 max)
Unscorable, explanations are
extremely vague/confusing or
completely non-existent.
Student participation demonstrates
no complex thought or synthesis of
ideas. Regurgitates facts without
editorial or interpretation.
Student Score:______ (25 max)
Respect & Team Work
A combination of student speech
and behavior demonstrates a lack
of respect and listening AND
student does not share work with
his/her team.
Student speech and behavior is
disruptive and disrespectful.
Student seems very disengaged/
unwilling to participate with their
classmates in the debate.
Total Score:______/30
US History Class Debate: Scoring Rubric
Participation
5
4
3
2
1
Accurate Info
Depth & Detail
Critical Thinking
Very active participation in debate
discussion. Student offers more
than 3 valuable comments. Very
“memorable verbal additions” to the
conversation.
All ideas presented are factually
correct and logical considering unit
content; student clearly has
command of course knowledge.
Thorough explanation of ideas;
clear and detailed use of
supporting evidence.
Student participation demonstrates
highly complex thought. Synthesis
of ideas is obvious. Sophisticated
and/or insightful interpretation of
the issues.
Student speech and body language
is always respectful. Student
always listens to others and does
not interrupt. Works with team
appropriately for the best
discussion.
Active participation in debate
discussion. Student offers at least
3 valuable comments. “Memorable
verbal additions” to the
conversation.
Most ideas presented are factually
correct and logical considering unit
content; student shows knowledge
of most course ideas.
Sufficient explanation of ideas;
uses supporting evidence
appropriately, but lacks detail
and/or clarity.
Student participation demonstrates
complex thought . Synthesis of
ideas is less obvious, however
insight is shown. Clear
interpretation of issues.
Student speech and body language
is mostly respectful. Student
mostly listens to others and does
not interrupt. Works with team
appropriately for the best
discussion.
Shallow explanation of ideas;
several statements lack evidence
of clear supporting detail.
Student participation demonstrates
thought that is average complexity.
Shallow/average synthesis and
insight shown. Student struggles to
interpret the issues.
Student speech and body language
sometimes lacks respect. OR
Student sometimes fails to listen to
others/ interrupts. OR Student does
not share work with his/her team.
Very little explanation of ideas
and/or support that is given is
vague or confusing to the
audience.
Student participaton t demonstrates
little complex thought. Little show
of synthesis and insight. Merely
surface interpretations, if any
shown.
Student participated in debate
discussion, but not actively.
Student offered fewer than 3
valuable comments.
Some ideas presented are factually
correct and logical considering unit
content OR 1-2 major fallacies
presented; student shows below
average command of course
facts/ideas.
Student minorly participated in the
debate discussion. Student offered
1-2 valuable comments.
Several ideas presented are
factually incorrect and/or illogical;
student shows significant
deficiencies in command of course
facts/ideas.
Student hardly participated in the
debate discussion at all. Student
offered no valuable comments
during the whole debate.
Almost no ideas presented are
factually correct or logical
considering unit content; student
shows severe deficiencies in
command of course facts/ideas.
Team Points:______ (5 max)
Unscorable, explanations are
extremely vague/confusing or
completely non-existent.
Student participation demonstrates
no complex thought or synthesis of
ideas. Regurgitates facts without
editorial or interpretation.
Student Score:______ (25 max)
Respect & Team Work
A combination of student speech
and behavior demonstrates a lack
of respect and listening AND
student does not share work with
his/her team.
Student speech and behavior is
disruptive and disrespectful.
Student seems very disengaged/
unwilling to participate with their
classmates in the debate.
Total Score:______/30