Discussion Guidelines
Discussion & Participation Rubric
Discussions are an integral part of intellectual formation and deepen both spiritual and human formation. The communal process of discussions is a vital part of truly understanding the great ideas of a subject, rather than cramming onerous lists of information in memory. Great discussions depend on the virtue of the participants: fortitude in preparation, prudence and temperance in participation, charity and justice in listening. Students will be assessed based on the following categorical standards: preparation, comprehension, relevance, and comportment. The grading scale reflects the extent to which students’ responses display exemplary virtue in their participation.
| Scale | Category | Standard |
| A | Excellent |
Student often volunteers to participate in the discussion. · Preparation: Student’s contribution clearly shows s/he has come fully prepared (reading text, knowing vocabulary). · Comprehension: Student’s response shows s/he has actively and critically engaged with the topic prior to discussion. · Relevance: Student’s contribution directly relates to the present discussion and adds new points to consider. · Comportment: Student’s decorum is respectful of authority and peers while respecting the nature/seriousness of the topic. |
| B | Good |
Student occasionally volunteers to participate in the discussion. · Preparation: Student’s contribution shows s/he has attempted to prepare well. · Comprehension: Student’s response shows s/he has used some critical thinking abilities to consider the topic. · Relevance: Student’s contribution mostly relates to the present discussion. · Comportment: Student’s decorum is generally mindful of authority and peers and sensitive to the nature of the topic. |
| C | Average |
Student rarely volunteers to participate in the discussion. · Preparation: Student’s contribution shows s/he skimmed preparation materials. · Comprehension: Student’s response shows an intermediate level of understanding of topic. · Relevance: Student’s contribution does not relate to the present discussion. · Comportment: Student’s decorum lacks mindfulness of authority or peers, or is insensitive to the nature of the topic. |
| D | Poor |
Student only participates after being prompted. · Preparation: Student’s contribution shows no evidence of preparation. · Comprehension: Student’s response is at a basic, elementary level of understanding of the topic. · Relevance: Student’s contribution does not relate to the present discussion and distracts from the question at hand. · Comportment: Student’s decorum shows unintentional disordered responses toward authority, peers and/or the topic. |
| F | Unacceptable | Student does not participate, even when prompted. |