A Level Participation

Participant offers enough solid analysis, without prompting, to move the conversation forward.

Participant, through her/his comments, demonstrates a deep knowledge of the text and an understanding of the question.

Participant has come prepared for the discussion - with notes and a marked/annotated text.

Participant, through his/her comments, shows that he/she is actively listening to other participants.

Participant offers clarification and/or follow-up that extends the conversation.

Participant’s remarks often refer back to specific parts of the text in question.

B Level Participation

Participant offers solid analysis without prompting.

Through comments, participant demonstrates a good knowledge of the text and question.

Participant has come prepared for the discussion - with notes and a marked/annotated text.

Participant shows that he/she is actively listening to others and offers clarification and/or follow-up.

C Level Participation

Participant offers some analysis, but needs prompting from the discussion leader or other participants.

Through comments, participant demonstrates a general knowledge of the text and question. Comments may be fairly undeveloped, moderately unclear, and/or unsupported by specific reference to the text.

Participant is actively listening to others, but does not offer clarification and/or follow-up to others’ comments.

Participant relies more upon her/his opinion than on the text to drive her/his comments.

D or F Level Participation

Participant speaks only once or not at all in the discussion.

Participant comes to the discussion ill-prepared without notes or marked/annotated text.

Participant does not listen to others, offers no commentary to further the discussion.

Participant distracts the group by interrupting other speakers or by offering off-topic questions and comments.

Participant ignores the discussion and its participants.

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