RN-BSN Discussion Guideline and Rubric Please read the requirements of the discussion criteria thoroughly and carefully. Download and/or Print for personal use.

RN-BSN Discussion Rubric Feb 2018

RN-BSN Discussion Guideline and Rubric Please read the requirements of the discussion criteria thoroughly and carefully. Download and/or Print for personal use.

The discussion grade includes

attendance, participation, and

content

Initial Attendance

Initial student attendance in each course will be documented through the student’s completion of the course

certification, pre-test, and introduction, which is required to be completed within the first three (3) days of the

course. Failure to log into the course and post within the first three days will result in a recorded absence. A

student’s failure to attend during that time frame may result in administrative withdrawal from the course.

General Attendance

Learners in online courses must post to the discussion boards with at least three substantive posts on three

different days every week to meet attendance requirements. Students are expected to communicate directly with

the course instructor regarding any circumstance that may result in their absence. Absence is defined as not

fulfilling any of the above requirements and failure to post initial discussion responses by Thursday of each week.

Due to the nature of some discussions, instructors may not allow students to post in advance or after the week’s

end without prior approval. Forgiveness of absences, grade deductions, or acceptance of late assignments due to

any circumstance is up to the discretion of the instructor. Each week’s posting deadline for all posts is Sunday at

11:59 pm ET.

Participation:

Participation is not the same as attendance. Course participation is met through discussion postings and submission of assignments including quizzes/exams/weekly summaries by required due dates. Participation level is determined by the instructor and will be evaluated throughout the week. Additional point deductions may apply. Content: Initial responses require the use of a scholarly nursing journal article to support the student’s own ideas and that of the nursing community in addition to the required textbook. “Scholarly” is defined as a full-text, peer-reviewed nursing journal article published within the last 5 years. If the article is considered a “classic”, “foundational to nursing”, or there is a “lack of current research” for the concept, articles older than 5 years can be utilized. If older articles are utilized, the student should be prepared to defend to the instructor and/or class, why the article was considered and used as support. Discussion of individual experiences related to the topic is encouraged. Academic Honesty: It is expected that student’s will do their own work and properly paraphrase, cite, and reference any content from other sources including the course text book when creating their discussion responses. Students are encouraged to view Keiser University’s plagiarism policy as it relates to academic honesty. Students may not use posts that they have used previously in the same course or from their other courses. This is considered self-plagiarism and is strictly prohibited. Plagiarism: The deliberate or unintentional use of another’s words or ideas without proper citation for which the student claims authorship. It is a policy of Keiser University that students assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other work designated by an instructor of a course. Students may not submit the same work completed for one course in any other course, earning credit for the same work each time. Plagiarism, because it is a form of theft and dishonesty that interferes with the goals of education, must carry severe penalties. These penalties can be found in the Keiser University Undergraduate Catalog, Academic Honesty Policy. ANY occurrences of academic dishonesty or plagiarism will result in a zero grade for the entire week’s discussion grade.

 

 

RN-BSN Discussion Rubric Feb 2018

DISCUSSION GRADING RUBRIC

Criteria Criteria Description Exemplary (A)

90-100% Above Average (B)

80-89% Average (C)

70-79% Failure (D-F)

0-69%

Initial Posts: Use of scholarly nursing journal articles and APA (25)

Initial posts must include a current nursing scholarly journal article paraphrased, cited, and referenced in APA format in addition to the required textbook.

Initial posts include strong and appropriate nursing scholarly journal articles substantively and accurately paraphrased, cited, and referenced that clearly supports the discussion topic with excellent APA format in addition to the required text.

Initial posts include supportive nursing scholarly journal articles paraphrased, cited, and referenced appropriately but exhibit minor gaps in clarity of content or accuracy of APA. Includes reference from textbook.

Initial posts include nursing scholarly journal articles or other source and was paraphrased, cited, and referenced with major gaps in clarity of content or accuracy of APA. May or may not include reference from textbook.

Initial posts did not include a nursing scholarly journal article or were not paraphrased with any clear understanding. Other sources may have been present with or without proper APA citations/referen ces. May or may not include reference from textbook.

Responses to Peers: Use of scholarly articles or other sources and APA (25)

All responses to peers must include a minimum of one (1) professional source AND at least one peer response must include a scholarly journal article paraphrased cited, and referenced. (Sources can include scholarly articles from nursing or other relevant disciplines, ANA Essential texts, professional web sites, or the course text. The use of web sites such as Wikipedia or a non- discipline supportive website are not allowed)

All responses to peers include a professional source substantively and accurately paraphrased, cited, and referenced that clearly supports the peer discussion response with excellent APA format. Includes at least one scholarly journal article.

Most all responses to peers include a professional source paraphrased, cited, and referenced appropriately with only some minor gaps in clarity of content or accuracy of APA. Includes at least one scholarly journal article.

Some responses to peers include a professional source paraphrased, cited, and referenced with or without gaps in clarity of content or accuracy of APA. May or may not include a scholarly journal article.

None or a couple responses to peers include a professional source paraphrased, cited, and referenced with or without gaps in clarity of content or accuracy of APA.

Content Quality and Critical Thinking (35)

Discussion responses are comprehensive and relate directly to the weekly topic by exploring the various aspects (details) through discussing or debating and adding

Addresses all aspects/components of the discussion question. Comprehensively and accurately analyzes, synthesizes, or evaluates the selected topic and related aspects

Addresses most aspects/components of the discussion question. Selectively, analyzes, synthesizes, or evaluates the selected topic and related aspects with minor gaps in

Addresses some aspects/components of the discussion question. Minimally analyzes, synthesizes, or evaluates the selected topic with major gaps in comprehensiveness, accuracy, or clarity.

Presents only superficial knowledge with no real analysis, synthesis, or evaluation of the topic.

 

 

RN-BSN Discussion Rubric Feb 2018

to the content with textbook and/or other citations for support. Responses show evidence of analysis, synthesis, or evaluation of topic and related concepts. Analysis – understanding organizational structure by breaking down the parts of the concepts: relationships and principles Synthesis -putting things together to form a whole: concept building Evaluation -ability to judge the value of the material being presented.

applying knowledge, experiences, and presenting a clear understanding of the week’s concepts.

comprehensiveness, accuracy, or clarity.

Professionalism (10)

 

Student addresses classmates and/or Instructor by name and is respectful of others’ ideas and opinions. Responds to questions asked by instructor or peers (if question is posed by Saturday of the course week).

Addressed students/Instructor by name for all posts. Tone and responses are respectful and engaging. Responded to all questions posed by Instructor/peers (even if question was posed on Sunday).

Most posts addressed students/Instructor by name. Tone and responses are respectful and engaging. Responded to all questions posed by Instructor/peers (if question was posed by Saturday).

Some postings addressed students/Instructor by name. Some postings may not reflect professionalism. May or may not responded to questions posed by Instructor/peers.

Postings did not reflect professionalism requirements effectively.

Writing Conventions (5)

Uses proper sentence structure and paragraphing including accurate spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and a professional tone.

Postings are very well written in scholarly style with excellent writing conventions.

Postings are mostly well written with minor errors in writing conventions.

Postings are generally poorly written with major errors in writing conventions making the content difficult to understand or follow.

Writing conventions are non-conformant in consistency and accuracy making the presentation unreadable.

Attendance and Participation Requirements

Each Initial post to the required discussion threads are made on or before Thursday 11:59 PM ET of each course week. A minimum of two (2) responses to

If all attendance and participation requirements are met, no deductions to overall grade are imposed.

Compliance deductions are taken off manually from the graded discussion rubric raw score. Compliance Deductions are as follows: -5 each late initial post

N/A N/A

 

 

RN-BSN Discussion Rubric Feb 2018

peers are posted on two (2) different days from initial post and by Sunday 11:59 PM ET within the course week. One of your required responses can be a response to a question asked by the Instructor. A total minimum of three (3) responses (initial post and two responses to peers) are present on at least three different days throughout the course week.

-5 Participation on less than 3 days for the week -30 for each response to peer not posted -40 for each initial response not posted