Rubric

As adapted from GMU professor Mark Semple‘s own blogging rubric, these will be our guidelines for assessing the blog entries you will be doing throughout the semester.

Each post will be rated on a scale of 0-4, with each number corresponding to a particular letter grade, according to University regulations. You will be judged on how your writing displays a capacity for critical thinking and nuanced engagement with the films viewed in the course.

4 (A): Exceptional. The blog entry is focused and coherently integrates scenes from the film with explanations or analysis from ideas taken from the readings and in class discussions. The entry demonstrates awareness of its own limitations or implications, and it considers multiple perspectives when appropriate. The entry reflects in-depth engagement with the topic.

3 (B): Satisfactory. The blog entry is reasonably focused, and explanations or analysis are mostly based on examples or other evidence. Fewer connections are made between ideas, and though new insights are offered, they are not fully developed. The entry reflects a moderate engagement with the topic.

2 (C): Underdeveloped. The blog entry is mostly description or summary, without consideration of alternative perspectives, and few connections are made between ideas. The entry reflects passing engagement with the topic.

1 (D): Limited. The blog entry is unfocused, or simply rehashes previous comments, and displays no evidence of student engagement with the topic.

0 (F): No Credit. The blog entry is missing or consists of one or two disconnected sentences.

There is no need for detailed plot summaries here. Ideally, these blog entries should be addressed to people who have already seen the film in question and who have no need to be reminded of its plot. At the same time, for people who have not seen the films but have stumbled upon your entries, your writing should convey little information to spoil their viewing experience.