Lightning Talk Assignment Instructions and Rubric

This assignment presents an opportunity for you to discuss what you have learned regarding a
topic in which you feel particularly interested. You will create a short video (3-6 minutes) either
on your computer or smartphone, including the information below. Once you have completed the
assignment, you will submit it by uploading the video to eCampus. After hitting “submit”, please
wait 5-10 minutes for uploading. If you still experience technical difficulties, you can upload
your video to YouTube and submit the link to eCampus. If you choose the YouTube option,
please make sure the video’s privacy setting is marked as unlisted and the link can be viewed.

Things to include in your lightning talk:

A. Introduction
1. The topic and the module in which it was presented (From module ___, I am interested in
___.)
2. Describe some information you learned about the topic (I found that ___.)
B. Question
1. Share a question you have relating to the topic (This made me ask the question ___.)
2. Explain why you have that question/why it is an important question and speculate as to
the answer to your question (I wonder ___ because ___. Perhaps ___ or I think ___. )
C. Answer
1. Answer your question with support and evidence from the scientific literature (After
reviewing the literature, I found ___.)
 Grading Rubric

Criteria Excellent Adequate Not Sufficient

Introduction 1 1. The student clearly explains the
topic of discussion as well as the
material from which their topic is
drawn from.
Possible Points: 5pts.
1. The student states the material
they examined but failed to state the
topic of discussion or vise-versa.
Possible Points: 3-4pts.
1. The student fails to include this
portion of the Lightning Talk
entirely.
Possible Points: 0-2pts.

Introduction 2 1. The student clearly explains their 1. The student’s explanation of their 1. The student fails to include this
findings. findings is unclear or difficult to portion of the Lightning Talk
understand. entirely.

Possible Points: 5pts. Possible Points: 3-4pts. Possible Points: 0-2pts.

Question 1 1. The student clearly states their 1. The student states their question, 1. The student fails to include this
question and the question is easily but the question is difficult to portion of the Lightning Talk
understood. understand or is not clearly related entirely.
to the material.

Possible Points: 5pts. Possible Points: 3-4pts. Possible Points: 0-2pts.

Question 2 1. The student clearly states their 1. The student’s reasoning is unclear 1. The student fails to include this
reasoning for asking their question or their answer seemingly far- portion of the Lightning Talk
and what they believe the answer to fetched and implausible. entirely.
be.
Possible Points: 3-4pts.
Possible Points: 5pts. Possible Points: 0-2pts.

Answer 1 1. The student clearly states the
evidence they found in support of
their speculations and formulates a
convincing argument in support of
their speculations.
1. The student’s evidence or 1. The student fails to include this
argument in support of their portion of the Lightning Talk
speculations is poorly formulated or entirely.
not convincing.

Possible Points: 5pts. Possible Points: 3-4pts. Possible Points: 0-2pts.

Video Length 1. Video length is within the range 1. Video length is less than 3 1. Video length is less than 1.5
of 3 – 6 minutes. minutes or greater than 6 minutes. minutes or greater than 7 minutes.

Possible Points: 5pts. Possible Points: 3-4pts. Possible Points: 0-2pts.