Writing Assignment 2.0: Best Practices & Sample Rubric
Templates
Welcome to Connect and the new Writing Assignment tool! This guide is
designed to help you develop and build a rubric for your Connect course
writing assignments. Once you’ve built your rubric, you can reuse it for all of
your writing assignments and in other Connect courses with the Writing
Assignment tool as well.
Contents
Parts of a Rubric................................................................................................................................................................... 6
How to Modify a Rubric.................................................................................................................................................... 7
Performance Rating/Scale Labels............................................................................................................................. 7
Percent Score.................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Categories/Criteria......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Level Descriptors............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Rubric Review Checklist................................................................................................................................................... 9
Clarity of Criteria............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Distinction between Levels......................................................................................................................................... 9
Descriptors......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Rubric Templates.............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Rubric Template - 5 Levels....................................................................................................................................... 10
Rubric Template - 4 Levels....................................................................................................................................... 11
Rubric Template - 3 Levels....................................................................................................................................... 12
Rubric Template - 2 Levels...................................................................................................................................... 12
Professors should take at least some responsibility. But, detecting and verifying plagiarism is a
time consuming process. Often professors have large classes with hundreds of students and it is
not practical to catch all the plagiarism. Furthermore, professors are not always supported in
their efforts to detect plagiarism and feel that it is easier just to ignore it (a questionable ethical
practice in itself)........................................................................................................................................................... 37
It depends. Some argue that students should be given the benefit of the doubt. First offences
would have mild disciplinary action. When serious disciplinary action is taken (for example,
, being thrown out of college), a fair process must be in place to protect the interests of all
involved............................................................................................................................................................................ 38
A three step approach is suggested:...................................................................................................................... 38
The Critical Thinking Community at http://www.criticalthinking.org/ In particular, information
on critical thinking is available at
http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/index-of-articles/1021/. “Defining Critical Thinking” at
http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766..................................................54
“Strategies for Teaching Critical Thinking,” ERIC/AE Digest at http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-
1/critical.htm..................................................................................................................................................................... 54
“An Introduction to Critical Thinking” at
http://smartcollegeplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Critical-Thinking.pdf..................54
Chapters................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Right of Private Property................................................................................................................................................... 78
Profits........................................................................................................................................................................................ 78
Individualism and Economic Freedom........................................................................................................................ 78
The Work Ethic...................................................................................................................................................................... 78
Equality of Opportunity..................................................................................................................................................... 78
Consumer Sovereignty....................................................................................................................................................... 78
Competition............................................................................................................................................................................ 79
The Role of Government.................................................................................................................................................... 79
Responsibility for Ethics 3.1: Ethical Consumers.................................................................................................... 90
Responsibility for Ethics 3.2 Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.............................................91
Responsibility for Ethics 3.3: The Patron Saint of Business................................................................................ 91
Everyday Ethics 3.2: Catalyst Paper’s Stakeholders............................................................................................... 95
Everyday Ethics 3.3: Executive Compensation and Ethical Implications.......................................................97
SECTION THREE: ASSIGNMENTS TO ACCOMPANY............................................................................................. 112
Preamble: The following assignments are presented as starting points for instructors. Some
assignments may be used as presented while others can be modified to match the instructor’s
approach or emphasis....................................................................................................................................................... 112
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................................................... 112
,[Suggested in Chapter 1, but most effectively used towards the end of the book when all concepts
and issues are covered]................................................................................................................................................... 124
Description of Assignment:............................................................................................................................................ 125
Format of the Assignment:............................................................................................................................................. 128
EDITORIAL ANALYSIS............................................................................................................................................... 128
EDITORIAL CARTOON ANALYSIS.......................................................................................................................... 130
Each student is to analyze an editorial cartoon from the sheet provided...............................................131
[Recommended for use with Chapter 8 or following chapters]..............................................................132
Students are required to search the web sites of corporation whose products they purchase to
identify the contents relating to ethics of business and corporate social responsibility. Examples
of corporations that could be used are:............................................................................................................. 133
Tommy Hilfiger........................................................................................................................................................... 133
EVALUATION OF WEB SITE.................................................................................................................................... 133
Your analysis must cover all forms of regulation including..............................................................................138
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITIES ANALYSIS..................................................................................139
STAKEHOLDER MAP AND INTERPRETATION.................................................................................................. 141
[Recommended for use with Chapter 4]........................................................................................................... 141
Purpose of Assignment:........................................................................................................................................... 141
Format of Assignment:............................................................................................................................................. 142
VIDEO ANALYSIS............................................................................................................................................................. 144
“WATCH” WEB SITE CRITIQUE...................................................................................................................................... 144
Explain stakeholder analysis in an organization................................................................................................... 149
Describe stakeholder management capability....................................................................................................... 149
Responsibility for Ethics 4.1: Jobs in Stakeholder Relations............................................................................150
Understand stakeholder matrix mapping................................................................................................................ 152
Discuss the diagnostic typology of organizational stakeholders....................................................................157
Responsibility for Ethics 4.3: Bank ATM Fees, Stakeholders, and Strategies............................................158
Apply the stakeholder identification and salience typology.............................................................................158
Responsibility for Ethics 4.4: PETA’s Milk Campaign and the Three Salience Attributes.....................159
Explain the application of stakeholder influence strategies.............................................................................160
, Have students visit Towards Sustainable Mining on the Mining Association of Canada site at
http://mining.ca/towards-sustainable-mining. They can generate a list of stakeholders from this
site............................................................................................................................................................................................ 161
Identify the use of stakeholder collaboration approaches................................................................................164
Everyday Ethics 4.1: Stakeholder Engagement at Celestica Inc......................................................................165
This table was in the First Edition but not included in this edition. It may be useful for introducing
the extent of ethics in business operations............................................................................................................. 219
Identify the influences on ethical behaviour and define ethical relativism...........................................224
Responsibility for Ethics 5.1: The Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Ethical Marketplace.....................225
Describe the common theoretical bases for ethical conduct........................................................................225
Responsibility for Ethics 5.2: Ayn Rand’s Views on Ethics and Self-Interest.............................................226
Everyday Ethics 5.2: Raymond James Ltd.’s Approach to Caring for Communities................................228
Information On The Use Of Film In Teaching......................................................................................................... 246
Sources Of Movies/Videos.............................................................................................................................................. 247
National Film Board (NFB)............................................................................................................................................ 247
CBC TV “Doc Zone”............................................................................................................................................................ 247
Full-Length Movies: Listings.......................................................................................................................................... 249
Caseplace.org. The Caseplace.org was taken offline in October 2016. A new weekly email, Ideas
Worth Teaching, has taken its place. Subscribe to the email at
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/business-and-society-program/ideas-worth-
teaching/....................................................................................................................................................................... 250
Brief introductions to GVV by Mary C. Gentile (formerly of Babson College now at University of
Virginia Darden School of Business) are available at:.....................................................................................257
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zna7du3h-Sw........................................................................................257
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzcI-pFXLgU.......................................................................................... 257
In theory corporations are sanctioned by society and contribute to growth the development of
society. Extreme views of the CSR range from only SR is to make money to expansive responsibility
to society. There is no definitive definition of CSR............................................................................................... 284
Conflicting examples: (1) Mining companies high CSR reporting rankings but boycotted and vilified
by some NGOs and (2) L’Oreal limited animal testing but owns The Body Shop.....................................284
Trade-offs cannot be avoided. CSR, like more aspects of life, is seldom in a win/win situation........284
Templates
Welcome to Connect and the new Writing Assignment tool! This guide is
designed to help you develop and build a rubric for your Connect course
writing assignments. Once you’ve built your rubric, you can reuse it for all of
your writing assignments and in other Connect courses with the Writing
Assignment tool as well.
Contents
Parts of a Rubric................................................................................................................................................................... 6
How to Modify a Rubric.................................................................................................................................................... 7
Performance Rating/Scale Labels............................................................................................................................. 7
Percent Score.................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Categories/Criteria......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Level Descriptors............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Rubric Review Checklist................................................................................................................................................... 9
Clarity of Criteria............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Distinction between Levels......................................................................................................................................... 9
Descriptors......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Rubric Templates.............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Rubric Template - 5 Levels....................................................................................................................................... 10
Rubric Template - 4 Levels....................................................................................................................................... 11
Rubric Template - 3 Levels....................................................................................................................................... 12
Rubric Template - 2 Levels...................................................................................................................................... 12
Professors should take at least some responsibility. But, detecting and verifying plagiarism is a
time consuming process. Often professors have large classes with hundreds of students and it is
not practical to catch all the plagiarism. Furthermore, professors are not always supported in
their efforts to detect plagiarism and feel that it is easier just to ignore it (a questionable ethical
practice in itself)........................................................................................................................................................... 37
It depends. Some argue that students should be given the benefit of the doubt. First offences
would have mild disciplinary action. When serious disciplinary action is taken (for example,
, being thrown out of college), a fair process must be in place to protect the interests of all
involved............................................................................................................................................................................ 38
A three step approach is suggested:...................................................................................................................... 38
The Critical Thinking Community at http://www.criticalthinking.org/ In particular, information
on critical thinking is available at
http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/index-of-articles/1021/. “Defining Critical Thinking” at
http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766..................................................54
“Strategies for Teaching Critical Thinking,” ERIC/AE Digest at http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-
1/critical.htm..................................................................................................................................................................... 54
“An Introduction to Critical Thinking” at
http://smartcollegeplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Critical-Thinking.pdf..................54
Chapters................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Right of Private Property................................................................................................................................................... 78
Profits........................................................................................................................................................................................ 78
Individualism and Economic Freedom........................................................................................................................ 78
The Work Ethic...................................................................................................................................................................... 78
Equality of Opportunity..................................................................................................................................................... 78
Consumer Sovereignty....................................................................................................................................................... 78
Competition............................................................................................................................................................................ 79
The Role of Government.................................................................................................................................................... 79
Responsibility for Ethics 3.1: Ethical Consumers.................................................................................................... 90
Responsibility for Ethics 3.2 Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.............................................91
Responsibility for Ethics 3.3: The Patron Saint of Business................................................................................ 91
Everyday Ethics 3.2: Catalyst Paper’s Stakeholders............................................................................................... 95
Everyday Ethics 3.3: Executive Compensation and Ethical Implications.......................................................97
SECTION THREE: ASSIGNMENTS TO ACCOMPANY............................................................................................. 112
Preamble: The following assignments are presented as starting points for instructors. Some
assignments may be used as presented while others can be modified to match the instructor’s
approach or emphasis....................................................................................................................................................... 112
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................................................... 112
,[Suggested in Chapter 1, but most effectively used towards the end of the book when all concepts
and issues are covered]................................................................................................................................................... 124
Description of Assignment:............................................................................................................................................ 125
Format of the Assignment:............................................................................................................................................. 128
EDITORIAL ANALYSIS............................................................................................................................................... 128
EDITORIAL CARTOON ANALYSIS.......................................................................................................................... 130
Each student is to analyze an editorial cartoon from the sheet provided...............................................131
[Recommended for use with Chapter 8 or following chapters]..............................................................132
Students are required to search the web sites of corporation whose products they purchase to
identify the contents relating to ethics of business and corporate social responsibility. Examples
of corporations that could be used are:............................................................................................................. 133
Tommy Hilfiger........................................................................................................................................................... 133
EVALUATION OF WEB SITE.................................................................................................................................... 133
Your analysis must cover all forms of regulation including..............................................................................138
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITIES ANALYSIS..................................................................................139
STAKEHOLDER MAP AND INTERPRETATION.................................................................................................. 141
[Recommended for use with Chapter 4]........................................................................................................... 141
Purpose of Assignment:........................................................................................................................................... 141
Format of Assignment:............................................................................................................................................. 142
VIDEO ANALYSIS............................................................................................................................................................. 144
“WATCH” WEB SITE CRITIQUE...................................................................................................................................... 144
Explain stakeholder analysis in an organization................................................................................................... 149
Describe stakeholder management capability....................................................................................................... 149
Responsibility for Ethics 4.1: Jobs in Stakeholder Relations............................................................................150
Understand stakeholder matrix mapping................................................................................................................ 152
Discuss the diagnostic typology of organizational stakeholders....................................................................157
Responsibility for Ethics 4.3: Bank ATM Fees, Stakeholders, and Strategies............................................158
Apply the stakeholder identification and salience typology.............................................................................158
Responsibility for Ethics 4.4: PETA’s Milk Campaign and the Three Salience Attributes.....................159
Explain the application of stakeholder influence strategies.............................................................................160
, Have students visit Towards Sustainable Mining on the Mining Association of Canada site at
http://mining.ca/towards-sustainable-mining. They can generate a list of stakeholders from this
site............................................................................................................................................................................................ 161
Identify the use of stakeholder collaboration approaches................................................................................164
Everyday Ethics 4.1: Stakeholder Engagement at Celestica Inc......................................................................165
This table was in the First Edition but not included in this edition. It may be useful for introducing
the extent of ethics in business operations............................................................................................................. 219
Identify the influences on ethical behaviour and define ethical relativism...........................................224
Responsibility for Ethics 5.1: The Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Ethical Marketplace.....................225
Describe the common theoretical bases for ethical conduct........................................................................225
Responsibility for Ethics 5.2: Ayn Rand’s Views on Ethics and Self-Interest.............................................226
Everyday Ethics 5.2: Raymond James Ltd.’s Approach to Caring for Communities................................228
Information On The Use Of Film In Teaching......................................................................................................... 246
Sources Of Movies/Videos.............................................................................................................................................. 247
National Film Board (NFB)............................................................................................................................................ 247
CBC TV “Doc Zone”............................................................................................................................................................ 247
Full-Length Movies: Listings.......................................................................................................................................... 249
Caseplace.org. The Caseplace.org was taken offline in October 2016. A new weekly email, Ideas
Worth Teaching, has taken its place. Subscribe to the email at
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/business-and-society-program/ideas-worth-
teaching/....................................................................................................................................................................... 250
Brief introductions to GVV by Mary C. Gentile (formerly of Babson College now at University of
Virginia Darden School of Business) are available at:.....................................................................................257
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zna7du3h-Sw........................................................................................257
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzcI-pFXLgU.......................................................................................... 257
In theory corporations are sanctioned by society and contribute to growth the development of
society. Extreme views of the CSR range from only SR is to make money to expansive responsibility
to society. There is no definitive definition of CSR............................................................................................... 284
Conflicting examples: (1) Mining companies high CSR reporting rankings but boycotted and vilified
by some NGOs and (2) L’Oreal limited animal testing but owns The Body Shop.....................................284
Trade-offs cannot be avoided. CSR, like more aspects of life, is seldom in a win/win situation........284
