Dr. Bidmead used a critical thinking rubric to assess student writing in REL 302, Methods and Theory for the Study of Religion.  The course provides the basic concepts, theories, and methods that have shaped the academic study of religion and is the only course required of all majors.  The rubric was used to assess the midterm paper and smaller critical reading/response papers.  Dr. Bidmead found that using the rubric helped her communicate to the students what critical thinking entailed for the course.  She was also able to note areas in which students were having difficulty on the midterm and make adjustments in assignments and classroom activities.  In her final report for the project, she reported, “After making these course refinements, I saw a marked improvement in critical thinking as evidenced in the results for response papers.  By the end of the semester students were engaging the material in a much more sophisticated and critical manner.”

Assignment

Bidmead Assignment

Rubric

Bidmead Rubric