2.5-Point Rubric

Decision Points and BlueBooks use the same five criteria. The same language applies to group presentations and essays.

Each criterion is worth 0.5 points.

### Student Voice

- **0.5 points:** Clear, specific, owned judgment.

- **0.25 points:** States a view but relies on vague or borrowed phrasing.

- **0 points:** No clear student judgment.

### Academic Inquiry

- **0.5 points:** Asks or answers a serious question about a relevant decision, conflict, or consequence.
- **0.25 points:** Raises a relevant question but does not pursue it.
- **0 points:** Summarizes without inquiry.

### Evidence and Specificity

- **0.5 points:** Uses accurate names, dates, events, laws, institutions, sources, cases, etc.
- **0.25 points:** Uses some evidence but stays too general or partly unclear.
- **0 points:** Claims without usable evidence.

### Judgment and Reflection

- **0.5 points:** Explains why the decision, conflict, or consequence matters for modern interpretation.
- **0.25 points:** Gestures toward meaning but does not explain the stakes.
- **0 points:** Avoids judgment or reflection.

### Evidence from Course

- **0.5 points:** Clearly anchors claims in course materials, readings, lectures, sources, or class discussion.
- **0.25 points:** Mentions course material but leaves the sources hard to identify.
- **0 points:** No clear source basis

Instructor Grading

Public debate strengthens our personal judgment.

Every Unit, Decision Points groups ask students to debate a consequential choice from American History and Government.

Every Unit, BlueBook Essays ask each individual student to reflect, in handwriting, on what that choice means to them.

Two Questions

What decision point defines this unit?
What should I learn from it?

2-Minutes

You’ll work across different groups to identify the figure(s), compare perspectives, and present your case to your classmates.

BlueBooks

After all presentations have been given, each student will handwrite a closed-note reflection essay. The class consensus Decision Point will be announced (automatic A).