Social Studies Middle School Guide

Student Work Rubric Content Understanding Dimension Options for C3 History/Social Studies: Grades 6–8

Use one or more of these as your “Disciplinary Content Understanding” dimension in the Grades 6–8 Argumentation or Informational/Explanatory Student Work Rubrics.

APPROACHES EXPECTATIONS

EMERGING

MEETS EXPECTATIONS

ADVANCED

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Includes disciplinary content in explanations, but understanding of content is weak; content is irrelevant, inappropriate, or inaccurate. Compares event or development to related event or development in another time period.

DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEAS [SELECT SPECIFIC CONTENT STANDARD(S) HERE.]

Briefly notes disciplinary content relevant to the prompt; shows basic or uneven understanding of content with minor errors in explanation.

Integrates relevant and accurate disciplinary content with thorough explanations that demonstrate in-depth understanding.

Accurately presents disciplinary content relevant to the prompt with sufficient explanations that demonstrate understanding.

DISCIPLINARY CONCEPTS ​ ​ [SELECT SPECIFIC DISCIPLINARY CONCEPT(S) RELEVANT TO THE TEACHING TASK.]

Clearly and accurately explains how specific events and developments represent change or continuity over time. Clearly explains causes and effects of past events or developments.

Thoroughly and accurately explains how specific related events and developments

Identifies specific events or developments as examples of change or continuity over time.

CONTINUITY AND CHANGE

represent change and continuity over time.

Clearly explains related causes and effects of past events or developments AND evaluates the relative influence of specific causes. Uses the dates and origins of sources, (e.g. intended audience, place, author), to introduce sources, accurately interpret and use sources, and, as appropriate, interpret the authors’ perspectives and purposes.

Explains multiple causes and an effect of past events or developments.

CAUSE AND EFFECT 1

Includes causes or effects of past events.

Notes dates and origins of sources, as appropriate, to introduce sources and use them in relevant and credible ways.

Notes date or origins of a source to introduce source and use it in relevant way.

Date and origins of sources have not been considered.

SOURCING

1 In history/social studies, explaining cause and effect usually requires constructing an argument about cause and effect. © Copyright 2018 | Literacy Design Collaborative

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