Use of

Resources

Overall
Argument

Opening
Statement

Witnesses

Thorough

Acceptable

Lacking

The finished product

illustrates that group
members read and
analyzed each source and
took detailed notes about
each source and how it
could help their case.
Sources are used
effectively and clearly
cited when appropriate

It is clear that students

gathered information from
the sources, but there are
gaps in knowledge about
Alexander or missing parts
of his story. For the most
part, sources are cited.

Evidence from the sources

is missing to the point that
the court case sounds
more like the groups
opinion, rather than an
argument based on facts
and evidence.

Very Effective

Effective

Needs Improvement

The court case has a clear

argument with well-chosen
evidence to support their
case. Each piece of
evidence is explained in
detail and used to help a
discussion of its
implications about
Alexander and his ability
to rule his empire.

The court case has a clear

argument, with evidence
that helps to support the
groups argument.
Evidence is explained and
connected to the overall
argument in an implicit
way. Evidence is used to
somewhat connect
Alexander to his ability to
rule an empire.

The court case has an

argument, but the
evidence provided does
not support the case and is
not completely explained.
There is no flow to the
argument and it is hard to
follow in places. Evidence
is not tied into Alexanders
ability to rule his empire.

Very Effective

Effective

Needs Improvement

The groups opening

statement provides a
clear, but concise,
background of Alexander
and the Macedonian
empire before him. It
discusses in detail what
makes a good leader and
the characteristics of
empire before previewing
the overall argument and
case.

The groups opening

statement has all of the
basic components,
including a background,
characteristics of empire,
and preview of the case,
but is not thorough in its
discussion and lacks
depth.

The groups opening

statement is missing basic
components from the
instructions, lacks detail
and depth, and does not
provide a preview of the
argument the group will
make in their case.

Very Effective

Effective

Needs Improvement

The witness section of the

court case successfully
takes the point of view of
Alexander or people that
would have interacted
with him. Witnesses
illustrate a thorough
understanding of the

The witness section of the

court case helps to
illustrate what Alexander
was like, and uses the
sources to get a basic
understanding of how
people would have viewed
Alexander.

The witness section of the

court case does not
successfully utilize the
sources, and witnesses
accounts and descriptions
of Alexander misrepresent
him or do not clearly
develop a view of his

sources and Alexanders

ability to rule.

Closing
Statement

Contribution to
Group

ability to rule an empire.

Very Effective

Effective

Needs Improvement

The closing statement

successfully summarizes
the implications of each
witness testimony or point
of view. Alexander is
measured with each of the
characteristics of empire
and how Alexander
illustrated them either
positively or negatively.

The closing statement has

a basic summary of each
witness and briefly
measures Alexander based
on the characteristics of
empire we discussed, but
not in detail.

The closing statement

briefly summarizes the
overall case without detail
and does not measure
Alexander based on all of
the characteristics of
empire we discussed.

Leader

Member

Absent

Group member had a

significant daily
contribution to the groups
project and helped keep
track of the groups
progress. They offer
helpful suggestions, but do
not take over and assign
tasks. A leader brings
everyone into the group
and helps ensure everyone
is working effectively.

Group member took

direction and quietly did
what they were told. They
got their job done,
contributed to the overall
product of the group and
did things in a timely
fashion.

Group member needed

supervision by other group
members and did not take
responsibility for their part
of the project. An absent
group member takes away
from the groups ability to
be productive.