Guidelines and Evaluation Rubric for Reflection Essay

FAMR 331, Sec. 3, Spring 2015, revised 3/9/15

1. Students will select four articles through the semester from the folders in
Laulima>Resources>Resources for Reflection Essays>Articles folder or specific websites with
professional articles on topics pertaining to the infant, toddler, prekindergartener/kindergartener,
and primary child, respectively.
2. Following the deadlines in the syllabus, students will read each article and write a response and
reaction (450-500 word count) about the article (sharing thoughts, impressions, and applications).
Introduce and name article in 1st or 2nd paragraph.
A. What are the main ideas? What is significant information from your point of view? Give one or two
specific examples related to the topic. What additional thoughts or questions came up for you?
How do these ideas/information relate to your past, current or future experience?
B. Style requirements: Write your Name, FAMR 331, Reflection Essay #___ (at the top of your paper
on next to left margin); 12 point font (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman), double spaced on 8 x
11 inch paper, 1 inch margins all around.
C. APA Style for Citations and References. Use Purdue Owl for information on APA style to cite article
and list reference.
An example of listing the article as a reference:
Kremenitzer, J. P. & Miller, R. (2008). Are you a highly qualified, emotionally intelligent early
childhood educator? Young Children: July 2008, 106-112.
For online article or paper from professional journal include where you found it:
Bernstein, M. (2002). 10 tips on writing the living Web. A list apart: For People Who Make
Websites, 149. Retrieved from http://www.alistapart.com/articles/writeliving
3. Each reflection essay should be posted in Laulima>Assignments by due dates and times. (label =
Last name_RE#_FAMR331)
4. Deadlines for Reflective Essays:
#1 Infancy due on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015 at 11:55 pm
#2 Toddler due on Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2015 at 11:55 pm
#3: Prek/Kdgn due on Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2015 at 11:55 pm
#4: Primary Child due Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2015 at 11:55 pm
1

Criteria

0-1 points

Reflectio Viewpoints and

n Critical interpretations are
thinking missing, inappropriate,
and
and/or unsupported.
Creativit Thoughts ramble and
y
make little sense.
Unsupported or
irrelevant connection
with professional
article. Examples are
not provided or are
irrelevant to the
assignment.

Criteria

Structur
e,
Gramma
r and
Mechani
cs

0-1 points

2 points

Viewpoints and
interpretations are
unsupported or supported
with flawed arguments.
Thoughts are somewhat
logical. Minimal
connections with
professional article.
Examples are not
provided or are irrelevant
to the assignment.

2 points

3 points

4 points

Viewpoints and
interpretations are
adequately insightful and
supported. Thoughts are
adequately expressed in
a coherent and logical
manner. Adequate
connections with
professional article.
Adequate examples are
provided, as applicable.

Viewpoints and
interpretations are very
insightful and well
supported. Thoughts
are very well expressed
in a coherent and
logical manner.
Insightful and
applicable connections
with professional
article. Clear, detailed
examples are provided,
as applicable.

3 points

4 points

Weighte
d Total

For
example
:
4x
1.5= 6

Weighte
d Total

Writing is mostly clear,

Writing is clear,
concise,
and
well
concise, and well
4x.
Writing is unclear and Writing is unclear and/or
organized with good
organized with very
5 = 2
disorganized. There
disorganized. There are
sentence/paragraph
good
are numerous spelling, more than six spelling,
grammar, or syntax
grammar, or syntax errors construction. There are sentence/paragraph
construction. There are
errors throughout the per page of writing. Apply no more than three
spelling,
grammar,
or
no spelling, grammar,
response. Apply few some of the style
of the style
requirements for written syntax errors per page of or syntax errors per
page of writing. Apply
requirements for
assignment. Some errors writing. Apply most of
all the style
written assignments. in APA style for reference. the style requirements
written
assignments.
A
requirements for
Too many errors in APA
few
errors
in
APA
style
for
written assignments.
style or no reference
reference.
Use of proper APA style
listed.
for reference.
Total _____ out of 8 points