BETHEL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Assessment Rubric

 

 

 

Interactive Reviews

A "B" Interactive Review will satisfy the following criteria:

    Summary

    • Concise (½ page).

    • The message or burden of the book, chapter(s), or article is clearly presented.

    Evaluation
    • Concise (½ page)

      •
    • Points of strength clearly presented.

      •
    • Points of weakness clearly presented.

    Reflection
    • Concise (up to 1 page).

      •
    • The learnings from this author clearly described.
    • Ways your views confirmed or challenged are explained.

    Form
    • Form and style is appropriate to graduate writing.

      •
    • Format:
      1. reference of passage (text optional),
      2. "big idea" / timeless principle,
      3. exegetical basis,
      4. personal application

     

An "A" Interactive Review will satisfy all of the above, plus:

    Evaluation

    • Philosophical/theological presuppositions identified.

      •
    • Why these strengths and/or weaknesses are important is explained.

    Reflection
    • Discusses implications this reading has for your church or parachurch ministry.


A review that does not satisfy the above criteria will earn a C+ or less.


 

 

Discussion Forum


An important part of the learning project involves learning with and from others. This involves interaction with primary sources; with the professor and various authors. It also involves learning with and from your peers. The Discussion Forum is an integral part of this learning project and warrants assessment.


Assessing Effectiveness of Participation
in Online Discussions

  Coasting Tracking Contributing Leading Points (1-4)
Contribution to Learning Team No effort to effectively participate with the learning team as it develops Marginal effort to participate; Occasionally makes meaningful contribution Often interacts effectively; Often presents ideas that become signficant part of team discussion Consistently offers creative reflection on topic; Engages others; Often prompts further discussion of topic  
Relevance of Posting Posts comments that do not relate to the discussion topic; makes thin or irrelevant remarks Occasionally posts off topic; Most posts offer no further insight on topic Frequently contributes substantively to the discussion; Post makes connections with readings Consistently posts substantive contributions to topic; Involves readings in the discussion; Refers to additional resources  
Expression Does not express ideas clearly Expresses ideas with minimal clarity Ideas clearly expressed; only occasionally wandering off topic Ideas expressed clearly and concisely; Clear connection to topic  
Delivery Poor grammar & style in most posts; Posts seem rushed Some errors of form & style in several posts Rare errors of form & style Consistent use of proper form & style  
Initiative & Promptness Does not respond to most postings Responds to most posts withing several days of initial post; Limited initiative Responds promptly to most posts Responds promptly to posts; Demonstrates initiative  

After Susan Edelstein & Jason Edwards, "If You Build It, They Will Come: Building Learning Communities Through Threaded Discussions" [http://elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=tutorials&article=3-1]


 

 

Personal Applications (P.A.)

Each P.A. assignment consists of a mini-exegetical treatments of a discrete passage. As noted below, treatment of each passage should be boiled down to about a half page.

Personal application assignments (P.A.'s)will be evaluated on the "big idea," exegetical treatment, application, and style.

A "B" P.A. will satisfy the following criteria:
    Big Idea
    • Will be stated as a timeless principle.
    • Will reflect the main concern of the text.

     

    Exegetical Treatment

    • Will demonstrate sound hermeneutics.
    • Will evidence facility in exegetical method.

     

    Application

    • Will appropriate the timeless principle to relevant modern situation.
    • Will suggest practical examples.

     

    Style

    • Will be clear and concise and free from grammatical, syntactical and spelling errors.

 

An "A" P.A. will satisfy all these criteria, plus

Exegetical treatment

  • Will offer fresh insight.

Application

  • Will be personal and specific (using 1st person singular rather than plural or 3rd person).
  • Will treat, as appropriate, at least one of the seminary's formation objectives (thinking, being, doing).

 

P.A.'s not meeting these criteria will earn a C+ or less.

 


 

 

Exegetical Research Paper

Exegesis and homiletical appropriation should reflect facility with the tools and skills taught in hermeneutics and ability to do graduate level research..

The Exegetical Paper will be evaluated on thesis, argument, content, & style. Your thesis statement expresses the main claim you will argue. It should indicate what you are going to develop about your topic. Your commentary should reflect the results of your analysis of the text and context for the author's intent while reflecting an awareness of issues and other perspectives on the text.The body of your paper will adduce evidence in support of reasoning to a conclusion. It should reflect interaction with & critical evaluation of scholarly discussion. Content will be characterized by appropriateness, accuracy & adequacy of data. The exegetical outline should flow from your syntactical mapping or "mechanical" layout of the passage (see Kaiser, Exegetical Theology, chs. 4, 8). Form & style should be appropriate to graduate writing. Therefore, you should allow yourself time to proofread and edit your work.

A "B" paper will satisfy the following criteria:

Thesis

  • Appropriate to topic.
  • States the claim to be argued.
  • Is clear and adequately developed.

Argument

  • Demonstrates critical thought.
  • Develops the thesis.
  • Is supported by evidence that is appropriate, accurate and adequate.
  • Demonstrates interaction with quality resources (both monographs & journal literature).
  • Demonstrates a logical flow.

Style

  • Paragraphs are well organized and developed.
  • Writing is concise.
  • Writing is free from errors of syntax, grammar, spelling, etc.
  • Documentation is consistent with one of the accepted manuals of style.

An "A" paper will satisfy all of the above, plus:

Thesis

  • Thesis shows insight and originality.

Argument

  • Demonstrates critical appropriation of relevant research.
  • Case is persuasively made.

A paper that does not satisfy the above criteria will earn a C+ or less.