Presidential Decisions Under the Microscope: Interview a President and Compare His Successes and Failures

Grade 8 · New York State social studies skills: historical inquiry, evidence, multiple perspectives, and discussion · Maximum: 20 points

Score the student’s questions, follow-ups, fact-checking, reasoning, and discussion contributions—not the AI president’s answers. For each criterion, choose one listed score.

1 · Finding Two Presidential Actions

• Exemplary · 4 points: Identifies two specific actions and asks why each ranks highest or lowest.
• Proficient · 3 points: Identifies two actions and asks for the president’s judgments.
• Developing · 2 points: Identifies two actions but explores only one judgment.
• Beginning · 1 point: Identifies only one action or leaves the judgments unclear.

2 · Conducting a Live Interview

• Exemplary · 4 points: Sustains many turns, follows each answer, and verifies or respectfully challenges claims.
• Proficient · 3 points: Holds several turns with answer-based follow-ups and some checking.
• Developing · 2 points: Asks a few follow-ups but rarely uses or checks answers.
• Beginning · 1 point: Pastes prepared questions in one or two messages without engaging answers.

3 · Probing Impacts and Alternatives

• Exemplary · 4 points: Uses open-ended follow-ups about beneficiaries, people harmed, and possible alternatives.
• Proficient · 3 points: Uses open-ended follow-ups addressing two of those three issues.
• Developing · 2 points: Explores one issue through an open-ended follow-up.
• Beginning · 1 point: Asks no meaningful follow-up about impacts or alternatives.

4 · Checking Claims and Evaluating Decisions

• Exemplary · 4 points: Checks both actions against reliable evidence and weighs conflicting perspectives.
• Proficient · 3 points: Checks both actions and supports personal judgments with evidence.
• Developing · 2 points: Checks one action or offers thin support for judgments.
• Beginning · 1 point: Accepts the persona’s judgments without checking or supporting them.

5 · Bringing Findings to Group Comparison

• Exemplary · 4 points: Shares both actions, explains judgments, and compares evidence or perspectives with classmates.
• Proficient · 3 points: Shares both actions and reasons, then makes a relevant comparison.
• Developing · 2 points: Shares findings but gives limited reasons or comparison.
• Beginning · 1 point: Offers little preparation or contribution to the comparison.

Final score: Add the five criterion scores. The maximum is 20 points. An empty submission earns 0 points.