Inspirational Uses of Habits of

Mind
Educating for a more thoughtful world

Research Performance Task

The directors of the Institute for Habits of Mind were very impressed with your recent
submission illuminating your use of a habit of mind. The directors are requesting that
you nominate a significant individual who has overcome a personal challenge using a
habit of mind. The individual should be an eminent person who has significantly
contributed to the fields of activism, politics, medicine, technology, business, sports,
arts, or science. The eminent person is to be recognized during the upcoming leadership
conference entitled Inspirational Uses of Habits of Mind. You have been asked to
prepare a brief presentation.

Select an eminent person you consider to be worthy of this honor.

Locate reliable sources about the eminent person. Locate at least three different
sources of different types to compile a variety of information about your eminent
person. Evaluate the information in the sources by judging its worth, credibility,
accuracy, and clarity. Compile a Works Cited in MLA format.
As you gather your sources, develop quality research questions. You may wish to
also consider the following:
o What were the contributions of the eminent person to the discipline?
o What were the significant challenges or the noteworthy conflicts the eminent
person overcame to reach success? How did the eminent person use a habit
of mind to resolve the issue?
o Why is the eminent person worthy to represent someone who skillfully
employed a habit of mind to overcome adversity?
Record your research using a graphic organizer. Be sure to paraphrase, quote, and
document your sources.
Synthesize your research into a three minute presentation to share with the
Institute for Habits of Mind directors. Your presentation should include a thesis
statement that clearly identifies specific, original, and an arguable generalization
about how an eminent individual used a habit of mind to resolve conflict or
overcome challenge. You should then clearly and concisely provide specific
evidence from your research to support your thesis statement. You should also use
visuals to enhance the effectiveness of your argument.

The directors are interested in reviewing your entire research process. Therefore, they
ask that you submit your work from every stage of your process.

Research Performance Task Rubric

Thesis
Statement

Organization

Evidence

Ethics

Exemplary
Thesis statement
clearly identifies a
specific, original, and
arguable generalization
about how an eminent
individual used a habit
of mind to resolve
conflict or overcome
challenge.
Evidence appears as a
clear, concise, and
logical progression of
ideas.

Accomplished
Thesis statement
identifies a
generalization about
how an eminent
individual used a habit
of mind to resolve
conflict or overcome
challenge.

Practitioner
Thesis statement identifies
an idea about how an
eminent individual used a
habit of mind to resolve
conflict or overcome
challenge but is
incomplete, confusing, or
unclear.

Novice
Thesis statement is
missing and/or lacks
specificity about how an
eminent individual used a
habit of mind to resolve
conflict or overcome
challenge.

Evidence appears as a
logical progression of
ideas.

Some evidence appears as

a logical progression, but
order is sometimes
confusing, and most
information is not
connected.

Evidence appears in
random order, confusing
the audience.

Supporting evidence
clearly, appropriately,
and fully elaborates on
and connects to the
thesis statement.

Supporting evidence is
clear and appropriate
but may not fully
elaborate on and
connect to the thesis
statement.

Supporting evidence is
present but is insufficient
to fully elaborate on the
thesis statement.

Supporting evidence is
irrelevant and/or missing.

Presentation reveals
sophisticated synthesis
of research from a
variety of appropriate
sources of support and
information.

Presentation reveals
synthesis of research
from several
appropriate sources of
support and
information.

Presentation reveals use of

research from a single
appropriate source of
support and information.

Presentation lacks
evidence of any research
and/or sources are not
documented.

All supporting evidence

including images is
appropriately
documented.
Communication

Presenter
communicates a
sophisticated argument
and includes visuals
that enhance the
effectiveness of the
argument.
Presenter demonstrates

Most supporting
evidence including
images is appropriately
documented.
Presenter
communicates an
appropriate argument
and includes visuals
that somewhat
enhance the
effectiveness of the
argument.
Presenter demonstrates

Supporting evidence
including images is
documented incorrectly.

Presenter communicates
an appropriate argument
and includes visuals, but
the visuals are not always
clearly explained thereby
weakening the
effectiveness of the
argument.
Presenter demonstrates

Presentation therefore is
not ready to be
evaluated.
Presenter does not
provide appropriate
visuals.

Presenter does not

demonstrate attention to
audience.

Self-Assessment

clear attention to
audience.

clear attention to
audience.

clear attention to
audience.

Research performance task

BY: ______________________________________________

Peer Reviewed by: _______________________________________________

Does the presenter provide a strong THESIS STATEMENT that clearly identifies specific,
original, and an arguable generalization about how an eminent individual used a habit of
mind to resolve conflict or overcome challenge? If not, how can the writer improve the thesis
statement?

Comment on the ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE of the presentation. Does the

evidence appear in a logical order? Are all of the ideas clearly connected? If not, how can
the writer improve the organization?

Comment on the EVIDENCE. Does the presenter provide supporting evidence that
clearly, appropriately, and fully elaborates on and connects to the thesis statement?
How can the presenter improve the use of evidence?

Comment on the ETHICS of the presentation. Does the presentation reveal

sophisticated synthesis of research from a variety of appropriate sources of support and
information? Is all supporting evidence including images appropriately documented?
How might the presenter improve this area?

Comment on the COMMUNICATION of the presentation. Does the presenter communicate a

sophisticated argument and include visuals that enhance the effectiveness of the argument?
How might the presenter strengthen the communication of the argument and or the inclusion of
images?

Does the presenter demonstrate a clear attention to audience? How can the presenter
strengthen the delivery of the argument? Refer to public speaking notes to offer guidance.