Public Policy Dialogues Rubric

Purpose
The purpose of the Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill meeting and assignment is to:

• Help you improve your understanding of citizen advocacy and representative democracy through personal meetings with members of
Congress and their staffs;

• Develop teamwork, communication (written and verbal), research and civic participation skills;

• Enhance your understanding of the member’s position on an issue of interest to you.

Category Target Acceptable Unacceptable

Demonstrates
understanding and
importance of advocacy
and representative
democracy
Student makes good use of
meeting and the letter to articulate
his/her position on a given issue.
The letter is persuasive and
demonstrates potential to
contribute to policy-making
process.
Student makes good use of the
letter to articulate his/her
position on a given issue.
Student simply writes a
thank-you letter that
does not identify any
particular position on an
issue.

Grasp of policy issue
Student demonstrates his/her
strong grasp of a policy-related
issue the member is working on
and is of interest to the student.
Ideas and opinions are well-
articulated and relevant.
Student demonstrates his/her It is clear the student is
grasp of policy-related issues not fully versed in the
the member is working on and issue discussed in the
is of interest to the student. letter.

Writing style, grammar
and overall organization
The student’s writing is clear and
concise. The length is appropriate.
Grammar punctuation and
spelling are correct. The letter is
well-organized and easy to follow.
The student’s writing is clear
and concise. Grammar,
punctuation and spelling are
correct. The letter is well-
organized.
The student’s writing is
not clear or concise.
There are grammatical
and spelling mistakes.

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