Disease Project: Essay
First Draft Scoring Rubric
Name of writer
Name of Disease
Information Required
Directions: Read the first draft of an essay written by one of your peers. As you read, look for
each requirement in the rubric below (this column). Use a highlighter to highlight the
requirement and use the same color to highlight where in the essay that requirement was
addressed. Then, provide a score for your peer that reflects the quality of their description.
Per.
Initials of Peer Editor
Infectious / Genetic / Cellular (circle one)
Not
Present
Needs
Attention!
Approaching
Standard
At Standard
Above Standard
Required
information
not
included or
addressed.
Minimal description
or explanation.
Minimal effort OR
does not address
prompt adequately.
Description gives some
detail but lacks in depth.
Answers are simple or do
not address question
adequately. Not many
examples or elaboration.
Description is detailed.
Applies what was learned in
class to disease and
elaborates thoroughly
enough for a lay person to
understand.
“At Standard” Criteria
Is met plus answers
show depth and are
answered thoroughly.
Proposes new insight
on the topic/question.
0
1
1.5
2
3
0
1
1.5
2
3
0
1
1.5
2
3
0
1
1.5
2
3
0
1
1.5
2
3
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
Introduction
Describes what causes the disease (e.g., infectious agent, dysfunctional molecule, under- or
over-production of a particular molecule [should be specified] or mistake in cell process
[should be specified] other reason).
Describes the symptoms of the disease experienced by the organism.
Describes the transmission, inheritance, or mode of acquiring the disease (how one “gets” it).
Describes any treatments to manage symptoms OR possible cures. If none, explains why.
Reader/peer editor has a general sense of the disease by reading the introduction.
Diversity of Life
Discusses the life forms involved in the disease in any way. Includes the organism(s) primarily
affected by [or can be], a vector for, and/or are the direct cause of the disease.
Discusses the extent of the disease on populations. May include how many people worldwide
AND/OR nationally are affected by this disease, the demographics of the disease (any agespecific, cultural, religious, class, etc. groups who are more or less affected by the disease).
Infers or explains why disease has the effect on those ^ populations.
Discusses the history of this disease in human (or non-human populations if applicable). May
include how and when disease was discovered and by whom, if and how this disease played a
role in shaping any societies or populations of humans, or if and how it affected certain
groups of organisms.
Cell Structure and Function
Discusses where in the body the disease has its greatest impact, emphasizing the cell or tissue
types affected. Includes what types of cells or the region in the body most affected by the
disease (e.g., liver, heart, brain, red blood cells, etc).
Discusses where in the cell the disease has its greatest impacts, emphasizing the organelles or
other cellular structures affected. Includes parts of the cells most affected by the disease
(e.g., mitochondria, lysosomes, membrane).
Describes the cellular mechanism of the disease. Includes what happens in the body between
the tissues AND in the cells between the organelles or other structures for this disease to
manifest itself. *Note change in score*
Uses accurate descriptions of cells and cell parts and it is evident that they understand the
disease mechanism.
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
2
4
6
8
0
1
2
3
4
Information Required
Not
Present
Needs
Attention!
Approaching
Standard
At Standard
Above Standard
Describes specifically how an affected cell is different from a healthy cell. Includes a
description of normal cells to compare to diseased cells.
Diagrams of a healthy cell and an affected* cell, side by side for comparison. Includes detail
of the cell parts, colors, and labels.
* = You will likely have to infer what this looks like using your knowledge of the cell parts and
descriptions of the disease.
Infectious Disease Only: Describes the physical structure of the infectious agent. Includes
what it looks like and/or what it is made of. Describes the effect of the infectious agent on the
cells of the body. Includes how the infectious agent acts on human cells.
Infectious Disease Only: Hand-drawn infectious agent (cell, virus, protein, etc.) includes
detail, color and labels to inform reader of infectious agent structure.
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
Molecules of Life (optional and extra credit on first draft)
Lists the types of biological macromolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids) that are involved in or play a
role in the expression of your disease.
Describes how these molecules are involved in the disease. Includes the specific molecules that are
involved and how the interaction, presence, absence, misshape, and/or dysfunction of these molecules
results in the expression of this disease.
Uses accurate descriptions of molecules and it is evident that they understand the mechanism of this
disease at the molecular level.
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
Genetics and Inheritance (optional and extra credit on first draft)
Genetic or Cellular Diseases Only: Describes specifically how a person gets this disease. Includes how
disease is transmitted (through a genetic mutation, chromosomal abnormality, somatic mutation,
organelle dysfunction, or something else) and elaborates on effect.
Genetic or Cellular Diseases Only: If the disease is caused by a genetic mutation, explains what the
mutation results in and how that impacts the organism. Explains if caused by a single mutation or multiple
types, and effect. If multiple mutations are involved, explains what kind of mutations they are and what
they do.
Genetic or Cellular Diseases Only: Explains the inheritance pattern of this disease (if there is one).
Includes if and how it is passed from generation to generation in a family. Explains if the allele(s)
associated with this disease is dominant or recessive (or incompletely dominant), sex-linked or
autosomal, or neither. If no inheritance pattern, explains why not.
Infectious Disease Only: Explains how the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of the infectious agent affects
the host. Explains the mechanism in depth, including the transcription and translation of the genetic
material.
Uses accurate descriptions of genetic information and it is evident that they understand the inheritance
and/or genetic mechanisms of the disease.
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
2
2
1
3
3
4
Format, Conventions, and Bibliography/Works Cited
Follows specified formatting: Double spaced, 12-pt font (Times New or similar). 4 pages max.
Professional grammar and conventions used. Convention errors, if any, are minimal.
Bibliography or Works Cited Page. Proper use of APA Format.
Total Score
/50 for Genetic or Cellular Disease
0
0
0
1
1
/56* for Infectious Disease (
/50)
* = Earned score will be multiplied by 0.89 to determine final score for infectious disease.