Demonstration & Deliverable Criteria¶

What "done" actually looks like — for every demo mode, for your deliverable, and at exhibition.

You chose your demo mode in Design Your Studio and locked it into Part 3 of your Contract. This page tells you what that mode has to contain to meet the standard. Come back here while you're building, not just when you're choosing.

First — three different things, scored three different ways¶

This trips up almost everyone. Sort it out now and you'll know what you're actually being measured on.

Thing	What it is	How it's scored
Demonstration of Learning	Your proof that you know the standard. Due Week 5.	✅ Your primary proficiency evidence — the most important one
Exhibition	Your Week-6 presentation to a real audience	✅ Scored on communication only — C.1 and C.6
Deliverable	The thing you make, exhibit, and archive	✅ Can have standards attached and be scored — check your Contract

Your Demonstration of Learning is the one that matters most

Your deliverable can carry standards and be scored — if it does, those standards are named in your Contract, so check there. But your Demonstration of Learning is your primary evidence for proficiency. A beautiful deliverable does not make up for a thin demonstration, and each is scored against its own standards — not blended together.

The scale you're scored on¶

Every demonstration is scored 1.0–4.0 on the NDSBL proficiency scale:

Score	What it means
4.0 — Advanced	Meets all criteria and shows deeper, more complex understanding — an extension beyond what was taught. Attainable — not "perfection."
3.0 — Proficiency	Meets all criteria, no major errors or omissions. You can do what the standard asks, independently. This is the target.
2.0 — Approaching	Meets some/most criteria. You know the vocabulary and basic process, but not the independent version yet.
1.0 — Novice	Meets few criteria — partial understanding, even with support.

Half-steps (2.5, 3.5) mark partial progress toward the next level.

3.0 earns an A

Consistent Proficiency converts to an A under the district cut scores. You do not need 4.0s. See How SDA Works for the full grade conversion.

Where your specific criteria come from: you wrote them yourself in Part 5 of your Contract, using your studio packet's Scale Tasks and the skinny for your standard. That's what your work gets measured against — so if Part 5 is vague, fix it now rather than at Week 5.

The six Demonstration modes¶

1 — Written Assessment¶

A focused written response to a set prompt.

[ ] 4–5 paragraphs answering the prompt you were given (typically 300–700 words — your studio packet's prompt sets the actual length, so check it)
[ ] Thesis with context — establish why the question matters before you answer it
[ ] At least two body paragraphs with evidence and explicit reasoning
[ ] A counterclaim paragraph with refutation
[ ] A conclusion

2 — Extended Writing¶

A standalone essay, analysis, or argument as direct evidence. (Most commonly chosen.)

[ ] Typically 600–1,000 words for a final demo — your studio packet's prompt is authoritative, so check it (a Week-3 rough draft target is ~500)
[ ] A specific, arguable thesis — not vague, not just a topic
[ ] Evidence from multiple reliable sources, each introduced and explained
[ ] Explicit reasoning connecting every piece of evidence to your claim
[ ] A genuine counterclaim — the strongest opposing case, not a straw man
[ ] A refutation that actually answers it
[ ] Works Cited, MLA

The quote sandwich — use it every time

Set it up ("Sinclair describes how…") → quote it word for word → unpack it ("This matters because…"). A quote dropped in with no setup and no unpacking does nothing for your score. Two sentences of yours for every one of theirs.

3 — Verbal Conversation¶

A conference where you talk through your understanding; your advisor documents the evidence.

[ ] Bring your notes/outline to reference — not a script to read from
[ ] State your claim clearly, without being prompted
[ ] Name your source when asked "how do you know that?"
[ ] Explain the counterclaim and why your claim still holds
[ ] Bring a short source list (author + title for each)

Recorded version (~3 min): thesis → strongest evidence with reasoning → best opposing argument → refutation → conclusion. Arguing, not reciting.

4 — Visual / Creative¶

A sketchnote, annotated diagram, infographic, or exhibit.

[ ] Your claim is written in words somewhere — title, caption, or artist statement. A viewer should never have to guess your argument.
[ ] At least 3 pieces of evidence, each labeled with its source
[ ] An artist statement (150+ words) explaining your design choices
[ ] A counterclaim shown somewhere — a contrasting panel, or a "some might say…" caption
[ ] A Works Cited list attached

5 — Multimedia / Performance¶

A podcast, video, debate, or presentation.

[ ] Length varies by studio — check your studio packet's prompt (a short recorded argument runs 2–3 minutes; a full documentary or podcast episode runs considerably longer)
[ ] States your thesis, gives your evidence, responds to the strongest counterargument
[ ] Built assuming your audience disagrees and has to be persuaded
[ ] Explicitly demonstrates the standards you named in your Contract

6 — Portfolio Annotation¶

Curated prior work plus metacognitive commentary.

[ ] Selects work that's genuinely relevant to the standard
[ ] ~200-word reflection written in explicit 2.0/3.0/4.0 language
[ ] Commentary references specific passages in the work
[ ] Explains your analytical reasoning — not just "I did this well"
[ ] Identifies what you would revise

Your Deliverable¶

It's what a real audience sees — and it may carry standards of its own. Check Part 6 of your Contract: if standards are attached, you're scored against those too. Either way, a strong deliverable:

[ ] Answers the essential question — a reader can tell what you concluded and why
[ ] Shows the evidence — specific evidence from your Source Log, not vibes
[ ] Is built for its audience — the one you named in Part 6 of your Contract
[ ] Is finished — proofed, formatted, and actually shareable

Types you can propose: essay · podcast episode · documentary · website · visual essay · photo essay · museum exhibit · debate · research presentation · original artwork with artist statement · or something you propose.

Where it goes: gallery or hallway display, a live presentation, or published to the Commons. The digital version (or a photo/recording) goes in your studio Drive folder.

Exhibition — what's actually scored¶

At exhibition you're scored on how you communicate, not on your deliverable. Two standards:

`9-10.C.1` — Presentational Communication¶

Score	What it looks like
4 · Advanced	Delivers for maximum impact. Multimedia is strategic — it unifies the message rather than decorating it. You can say why each choice serves your point.
3 · Proficiency	Prepared, appropriate register. You know when to look at the audience vs. the screen. Media genuinely connects to your content. Target.
2 · Approaching	You can assemble a deck, but you read off the screen, or your media doesn't connect to the content.
1 · Novice	Presents only with heavy support.

`9-10.C.6` — Discussion & Debate¶

Score	What it looks like in Q&A
4 · Advanced	Synthesizes the whole discussion, connects across what others said, defends your position in light of it. Makes space for others — notices who hasn't spoken.
3 · Proficiency	Listens and acknowledges other perspectives, evaluates the speaker's logic, shares synthesized evidence, asks and answers questions that move things forward. Target.
2 · Approaching	Answers direct questions but rarely adds evidence or moves the discussion somewhere new.
1 · Novice	Participates only when prompted.

Exhibition is one-shot

Unlike most demonstrations, exhibition is not reassessed. Plan and rehearse before the day.

Your studio's format:

WH-01 — gallery walk or Socratic seminar. Bring one piece of text evidence.
USH-01 — town hall / panel: 5-minute presentation, then 3 questions, including at least one that challenges your claim about what "worked."

Before you submit — the four most common gaps¶

Most work that falls short misses one of these, in this order:

No counterclaim. Every paragraph agrees with itself. By far the most common.
Evidence asserted, not shown. A claim with no named, specific source behind it.
A dropped quote. No setup, no unpacking.
A conclusion that just restates the intro. No "so what."

Works Cited — the four things people get wrong¶

Title it "Works Cited" — centered, its own page
Alphabetize by first word, ignoring "The" (so The Jungle files under J)
Hanging indent — the second line of each entry indents 0.5"
Unsure? Search "Purdue OWL MLA Works Cited", or use Google Docs → Tools → Citations