Mastery and Uses multiple readings References multiple Makes minimal use of Fails to use readings use of and demonstrates readings and readings and/or fails readings mastery of facts and demonstrates a good to demonstrate arguments made in degree of adequate mastery of readings. understanding. readings. Conceptual analysis Knows the analytical Knows most of the Makes some headway Fails to know and concepts, provides their concepts. Makes toward knowing and apply basic concepts. definition(s), and applies minor definitional applying the relevant them precisely and errors. concepts. systemically in the analysis of specific problems. Empirical analysis Marshals appropriate Marshals appropriate Attempts to provide Fails to provide evidence to describe, evidence to describe, and explain evidence relevant evidence. understand, and explain understand, and but with substantial political problems. explain political omissions or errors in problems, with small interpretation. errors. Theoretical analysis Explains the relevance Is able to apply Has difficulty Fails to connect the and applicability of a successfully some of connecting theoretical course’s theoretical wide range of theoretical the course’s analyses to the analyses to analyzed analyses to specific theoretical analyses to political problems. political problems. political problems. selected political problems. “Political literacy” Exhibits a nuanced Demonstrates a Has difficulty Fails to connect the understanding of the general understanding connecting the theories to actual relationship between the of the relevance of theories to actual issues of analytical tools learned political scientific issues of global/comparative in class and “real life” theories for the global/comparative politics. global/comparative analysis of the global politics. political problems. political world. Participation Analysis Exhibits attentiveness, Demonstrates Has difficulty Fails to demonstrate detail, comes to class on attentiveness, detail, connecting to student interest in the subject time. Exhibits active comes to class on time presentations, lecture material or by not participation (does not but is not as active in material, is not attending class or fails always mean talking) participation and interested in giving to treat all students through eye contact, listening to both feedback either to the with courtesy and body posture, presenting colleagues and the professor or to respect. with thoughtful professor or asks classmates; questions or inciting questions or raises repeatedly misses thoughtful responses comments not directly presentations and from the class, and related to the relevant classes. providing an analysis of topic at hand. theoretical understandings of the material and relating it to “real life” global/comparative political problems.
Mastery and use of readings Uses multiple readings and demonstrates mastery of facts and arguments made in readings. References multiple readings and demonstrates a good degree of understanding. Makes minimal use of readings and/or fails to demonstrate adequate mastery of readings. Fails to use readings Conceptual analysis Knows the analytical concepts, provides their definition(s), and applies them precisely and systemically in the analysis of specific problems. Knows most of the concepts. Makes minor definitional errors. Makes some headway toward knowing and applying the relevant concepts. Fails to know and apply basic concepts. Empirical analysis Marshals appropriate evidence to describe, understand, and explain political problems. Marshals appropriate evidence to describe, understand, and explain political problems, with small errors. Attempts to provide and explain evidence but with substantial omissions or errors in interpretation. Fails to provide relevant evidence. Theoretical analysis Explains the relevance and applicability of a wide range of theoretical analyses to specific political problems. Is able to apply successfully some of the course’s theoretical analyses to selected political problems. Has difficulty connecting theoretical analyses to the political problems. Fails to connect the course’s theoretical analyses to analyzed political problems. “Political literacy” Exhibits a nuanced understanding of the relationship between the analytical tools learned in class and “real life” global/comparative political problems. Demonstrates a general understanding of the relevance of political scientific theories for the analysis of the global political world. Has difficulty connecting the theories to actual issues of global/comparative politics. Fails to connect the theories to actual issues of global/comparative politics. Participation Analysis Exhibits attentiveness, detail, comes to class on time. Exhibits active participation (does not always mean talking) through eye contact, body posture, presenting with thoughtful questions or inciting thoughtful responses from the class, and providing an analysis of theoretical understandings of the material and relating it to “real life” global/comparative political problems. Demonstrates attentiveness, detail, comes to class on time but is not as active in participation and listening to both colleagues and the professor or asks questions or raises comments not directly related to the relevant topic at hand. Has difficulty connecting to student presentations, lecture material, is not interested in giving feedback either to the professor or to classmates; repeatedly misses presentations and classes. Fails to demonstrate interest in the subject material or by not attending class or fails to treat all students with courtesy and respect.