ECON 2302 Rubrics

ECON 2302 ACTIVITY 1 RUBRIC

For Activity #1 you were required to act as the president of a company of your choice and to choose the best investment for your money based on the data provided to you. Those decisions are an example of economic reasoning. People generally choose purposefully among alternatives, with an objective in mind and with some sense of the costs and benefits of the choices. Individual incentives and choices are influenced by the actions of others and by the rules of the economic system. Each time a rule or law changes – expanding or limiting alternatives or consequences – the incentives change.

The assignment required you to send a summary of your choices that included specific components. The following rubric explains the points you received based on the summary you sent.

___ The company and investment you chose (2 points max)

___ A detailed explanation of why you chose that investment (4 points max)

___ Specific and detailed connections to course content (4 points max)

This is the part of the assignment in which you should show off how much you know. You should have already gone through the margin notes and presentations that deal with relevant topics so it should be easy to make those connections.

___ Correct spelling and grammar (No points counted off on 1^st assignment.)

If necessary, work on your spelling and grammar before you start losing points.

___ Submitted by deadline OR ___ days late (Subtract 1 point per day late.)

I tend to be a bit more lenient than usual when I grade the first assignment. I know students aren’t sure initially what a professor expects so, for example, I might give the maximum points for an answer that really wasn’t fully developed, didn’t provide enough detail or etc. On future assignments I’ll use a rubric based on the assignment instructions as I’ve done here but I will hold students responsible for complying with all of the instructions. An assignment that includes words such as detailed, specific, discuss, explain, why, understanding, thorough, relevant concepts or etc, almost always requires an organized and in-depth response written in complete sentences and using correct spelling and grammar.

ECON 2302 ACTIVITY 2 RUBRIC

For Activity #2 you were required to compare price and non-price competition between two specific companies. The assignment required you to send a summary of your findings that included specific components. The following rubric explains the points you received based on the summary you sent.

___ Both companies' price (1 point max)

___ A discussion of the non-price competition involved (3 points max)

___ Which company you choose and why (2 points max)

___ Specific and detailed connections to course content (3 points max)

___ Correct spelling and grammar (1 point max)

___ Submitted by deadline OR ___ days late (Subtract 1 point per day late.)

ECON 2302 ACTIVITY 3 RUBRIC

For Activity #3 you had to answer the question Is Wal-Mart Good for America. The assignment required you to send comments that included specific components. The following rubric explains the points you received based on the comments you sent.

___ Answer exhibits an understanding of economic concepts. (3 points max)

___ Answer reflects the information given in the assignment. (2 points max)

___ Makes specific and detailed connections to course content. (3 points max)

___ Uses correct spelling and grammar. (2 points max)

___ Submitted by deadline OR ___ days late. (Subtract 1 point per day late.)

ECON 2302 ACTIVITY 4 RUBRIC

For Activity #4 you had to apply the Coase Theorem and Pigouvian Taxes to a hypothetical situation. The assignment required you to send a brief essay that included specific components. The following rubric explains the points you received based on the comments you sent.

___ Identifies chosen method and provides appropriate rationale. (3 points max)

___ Relevant concepts correctly applied to scenario. (3 points max)

___ Makes specific and detailed connections to course content. (2 points max)

___ Uses correct spelling and grammar. (2 points max)

___ Submitted by deadline OR ___ days late (Subtract 1 point per day late.)

ECON 2302 CRITICAL THINKING ESSAY RUBRIC

Categories	4 points	3 points	2 points	1 point	POINTS
INTRODUCTION reader engagement explanation of topic	Well-developed intro engages reader and creates interest. Contains well-defined and thorough explanation of topic.	Introduction creates interest but not well developed. Contains an explanation of topic.	Intro is generic, creating little interest. Contains adequate explanation of topic but is vague.	Intro is collection of random info not related to topic. Explanation of topic is vague or unclear.
TOPIC argument main points supporting examples	Argument logical and thoughtful. Well-developed points directly relate to topic. Supporting examples are concrete and detailed.	Argument present, adequate. Main points relate to topic but don’t go beyond the obvious. Supporting examples general and/or unspecific.	Argument present but weak. Some main points are present but missing obvious points. Few supporting examples given are weak or irrelevant.	Argument not present. Few main points, poor development of ideas. No supporting examples given.
ORGANIZATION structure transitions	Logical progression of ideas, clear structure that enhances topic. Transitions are thoughtful and flow with essay.	Logical progression of ideas but structure not always clear. Transitions are present, but often weak or awkward.	Structure is clear but at times is awkward and/or distracting. Some weak/poor transitions are present.	No discernible structure and/or organization. No transitions are present.
STYLE AND MECHANICS sentence flow and variety language and word choice	Writing is smooth and skillful, with strong, varied sentences. Language is direct and concise, and words chosen are clear and suitable.	Writing is clear and sentences often have varied structure. Language is sometimes overly wordy, and/or words chosen are fillers or artificial.	Writing is clear overall, but sentences lack variety. Language is often redundant or pompous, and/or words chosen are unsuitable.	Writing is hard to follow with fragments or run-on sentences. Language is chaotic and words chosen are inappropriate for college-level work.
SPELLING AND GRAMMAR	Spelling and grammar are correct. No errors.	Spelling and grammar mainly correct, with few errors (1-3).	Some errors in spelling and grammar (4-6).	Distracting number of spelling and grammar errors.
RUBRIC TOTAL
LATE POINTS DEDUCTED (1 PER DAY LATE)
TOTAL POINTS

Remember that this is a 20-point assignment ... the detail and comprehensiveness of your response should reflect that additional weight.

ECON 2302 PROJECT RUBRIC

For your project you looked closely at the concept of exchange rates and the effects – both positive and negative – various exchange rates can have on nations’ economies. The assignment required you to complete four different activities, each dealing with a different aspect of the concept of exchange rates. The following rubric explains the points you received based on the work you submitted.

___ Exchange Rate Calculation – 6 responses (3 points max)

___ Simple Exchange Rate Interpretation – 6 responses (3 points max)

___ Complex Exchange Rate Interpretation – 4-8 paragraph analysis (6 points max)

___ Global Exchange Rates – completed rate conversions chart (5 points max)

___ Correct spelling and grammar (3 points max)

_ _ Submitted by deadline OR ___ days late (Subtract 1 point per day late.)

Remember that this is a 20-point assignment ... the detail and comprehensiveness of your response should reflect that additional weight. It's also your last opportunity to show me how much you've learned in the course.