Assessment Report 2008

 LO3 Apply logical, scientific and/or quantitative reasoning to develop a thesis or hypothesis. 1*   LO5 Draft and respond to pleadings and motions. 2   LO7 Produce clear and well-organized writing that responds appropriately to an assignment using standard American English. 3   LO10Use word processing software applications to produce properly formatted documents. 4   L023Identify and understand terminology in at least four different practice areas. 5 **   LO24 Locate and discuss cases, statutes, and theories relating to at least four different legal practice areas. 6   LO25Perform paralegal tasks in at least four different areas of law. 7

 Complaints  Answers  Collected from two upper level paralegal electives: Litigation and Tort Law

CRITERIAPOINT VALUETOTAL 5/4 points 3/2 points 1/0 points Caption· Court accurately stated · County accurately stated (if applicable) · Parties and designations accurately stated · Caption formatted · Complaint appropriately titled · Some correct formatting · Some correct court and party designations · Incorrectly states court or parties · Caption not formatted · No title Parties and Statement of Jurisdiction (if necessary) · Identification of all parties and addresses ·Correctly invokes jurisdiction of court, if necessary · Statement of some parties or jurisdiction · Omits jurisdiction where necessary · Omits party names and addresses or places of business Statement of Facts of Claim · Identification of all parties and locations (if not alleged already) · Concise statement of material facts of claim · Simply stated facts · Numbered paragraphs for each allegation · Complete sentences · Some material facts included· Little or no fact summary · Material facts omitted · Incomplete sentences (x2) Cause(s) of Action· Each cause of action (count) identified · All elements of each cause of action stated in separate numbered paragraphs · Incorporation paragraphs included · Includes most elements of causes of action · Omits cause(s) of action · Omits most or all of elements of cause(s) of action ·Omits all incorporation paragraphs (x2) Prayer for Relief· “Wherefore” clause included · Each request for court action separately stated · Request for jury trial · Some elements of proper prayer for relief included · Omits most or all elements of proper prayer for relief Complaint Grading Rubric

Signature Block· Party’s name included · Attorney of record and address included · Dated · Some elements of proper signature block included · Omits party’s name · Omits attorney’s name and address Appearance of Body and Signature Block · Paragraphs individually numbered · Consistency in headings, fonts and numbering · Formatted and spacing · Overall professional appearance · Some formatting, spacing and overall professional appearance · Paragraphs not individually numbered · Unformatted Writing·Produces clear and well-organized writing that responds appropriately using standard American English · Complete sentences · Accurate spelling, punctuation, and capitalization ·Produces mostly clear and well- organized writing that mostly responds appropriately using standard American English · Mostly grammatically correct · Writing is not clear or well-organized and/or does not respond appropriately using standard American English ·Fragment or run on sentences · Incorrect grammar, punctuation and spelling Critical Thinking·Properly evaluated the evidence and data relevant to the assignment · Evaluated some of the evidence and data relevant to the assignment · Failed to properly evaluate the evidence and data relevant to the assignment Computer Fluency·Used word processing software applications to produce a properly formatted document with no errors or only minor errors ·Used word processing software applications to produce a document containing some significant errors ·Failed to use word processing software applications to produce a properly formatted document and/or produced a document containing many significant errors. OVERALL TOTAL OVERALL PERCENTAGE SCORE = OVERALL TOTAL ÷ 60 (Number of possible points)

CRITERIAPOINT VALUETOTAL 5/4 points 3/2 points 1/0 points Caption· Court accurately stated · Parties and designations accurately stated · Caption formatted · Answer appropriately titled · Some correct formatting · Some correct court and party designations · Incorrectly states court or parties · Caption not formatted · No title Admissions and Denials to Factual Allegations · Each allegation in numbered paragraphs of complaint responded to with admission or denial or statement that party does not have sufficient information to admit or deny · Some admissions or denials· Omits all or majority of admissions or denials (x2) Cause(s) of Action· Each cause of action (count) identified · Each numbered paragraphs of cause of action(s) responded to with admission or denial · Incorporation paragraphs included · Includes admissions or denials for most elements of causes of action · Omits cause(s) of action · Omits most or all of admissions or denials in response to elements of cause(s) of action ·Omits all incorporation paragraphs (x2) Affirmative Defenses· All applicable affirmative defenses included · Affirmative defenses correctly titled and numbered · Includes some applicable affirmative defenses · Omits most or all applicable affirmative defenses · Affirmative defenses not titled or numbered Prayer for Relief· “Wherefore” clause included · Each request for court action separately stated · Request for jury trial · Some elements of proper prayer for relief included · Omits most or all elements of proper prayer for relief Signature Block· Party’s name included · Attorney of record and address included · Dated · Some elements of proper signature block included · Omits party’s name · Omits attorney’s name and address Answer Grading Rubric

Appearance of Body and Signature Block · Paragraphs individually numbered · Consistency in headings, fonts and numbering · Formatted and spacing · Overall professional appearance · Some formatting, spacing and overall professional appearance · Paragraphs not individually numbered · Unformatted Writing·Produces clear and well-organized writing that responds appropriately using standard American English · Complete sentences · Accurate spelling, punctuation, and capitalization ·Produces mostly clear and well- organized writing that mostly responds appropriately using standard American English · Mostly grammatically correct · Writing is not clear or well-organized and/or does not respond appropriately using standard American English ·Fragment or run on sentences · Incorrect grammar, punctuation and spelling Critical Thinking·Properly evaluated the evidence and data relevant to the assignment · Evaluated some of the evidence and data relevant to the assignment · Failed to properly evaluate the evidence and data relevant to the assignment Computer Fluency·Used word processing software applications to produce a properly formatted document with no errors or only minor errors ·Used word processing software applications to produce a document containing some significant errors ·Failed to use word processing software applications to produce a properly formatted document and/or produced a document containing many significant errors. OVERALL TOTAL OVERALL PERCENTAGE SCORE = OVERALL TOTAL ÷ 60 (Number of possible points)

CRITERIANUMBER AND PERCENT RECEIVING AVERAGE RATING OF… 4 or higher2 or higher NumberPercentNumberPercent Caption 2, 4, 5, Parties and Statement of Jurisdiction (if necessary) 2, 5, Statement of Facts of Claim 2, 3, 5, Cause(s) of Action 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, Prayer for Relief 1, 2, 5, 6, Signature Block 2, 4, 5, Appearance of Body and Signature Block 2, 4, Writing 2, Critical Thinking 1, 2, Computer Fluency 2, ASSESSMENT 1: STUDENT ASSIGNMENT – DRAFT AN APPROPRIATE COMPLAINT COMPLAINT GRADING RUBRIC (Number of students rated = 18) Average ratings, across two raters, on a 6-point rating scale ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 5.

COMPLAINT GRADING RUBRIC RATING RESULTS

NUMBER AND PERCENT RECEIVING AVERAGE RATING OF… 4 or higher2 or higher NumberPercentNumberPercent Caption 2, 4, 5, Admissions and Denials to Factual Allegations 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, Cause(s) of Action 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, Affirmative Defenses 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, Prayer for Relief 1, 2, 5, 6, Signature Block 2, 4, 5, Appearance of Body and Signature Block 2, 4, Writing 2, Critical Thinking 1, 2, Computer Fluency 2, ASSESSMENT 2: STUDENT ASSIGNMENT – DRAFT AN APPROPRIATE ANSWER ANSWER GRADING RUBRIC (Number of students rated = 18) Average ratings, across two raters, on a 6-point rating scale ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 5.

ANSWER GRADING RUBRIC RATING RESULTS

 Our goals were met in all but the Prayer for Relief category in the Answer.  Areas for improvement to achieve a 4 or higher:  Complaint  Causes of Action  Answer  Causes of Action

 Share results with Faculty and Legal Advisory Board to brainstorm ways to improve targeted areas.

 The Program Plans to assess the following documents:  Briefs  Letters