Assignment: Thinking and Intelligence

What Makes Smarts?

STEP 1: Think about the three smartest people you know. Who are they? In what ways are they smart? What do they do that sets them apart in intelligence?

STEP 2: Write a response between 150-250 words explaining why these people are smart and, based on your readings, what psychological principles contribute to their intelligence. Were they born that way? Which type of intelligence would Gardner say they possess the most of? Are they also creative or do they have high emotional intelligence?

Sample Grading Rubric

Sample Grading Rubric
Criteria Proficient Developing Not Evident Points
Presents a coherent argument of between 150-250 words Clearly writes a few paragraphs of between 150-250 words Writing is unclear or too short or too long Writing is difficult to understand and/or too long or too short or does not present a coherent argument __/4
Characteristics of intelligence Describes characteristics of the three smartest people you know Partially describes characteristics of smart people you know Does not describe the characteristics of the three smartest people you know __/8
Evidence Provides detailed examples from the readings (or elsewhere) to explain the psychological principles that contribute to intelligence Provides some examples to explain the psychological principles that contribute to intelligence Does not provide or incompletely provides an explanation of the psychological principles that contribute to intelligence __/8
Total: __/20