2009–2010 National Engineers Week • Future City Competition

Essay Rubric
0 1 2 3
City Layout Criteria Score
(Points) (Points) (Points) (Points)

I. Selection of Living Space:

Select and define a living space of their choice using “green” materials, processes and standards to address a societal need.

Does the essay define the living Living space is Living space is
a.
space and its location as it pertains to NOT defined defined/named
the citizens in need (e.g. homeless)?
Location is NOT Location is Location is well
b.
identified briefly identified identified
1
Does NOT Briefly relates to Adequately Relates well to
address the the needs of the relates to the the needs of the
c.
needs of the citizens needs of the citizens
citizens citizens

Does the essay explain how the living NO explanation One of the three Two Three
space can adapt to various sizes of variation in characteristics characteristics characteristics
a.
and styles, and what is the expected size, style or is briefly are briefly are briefly
lifespan of the living space? lifespan addressed addressed addressed
2
NO in depth In depth In depth
explanation explanation explanation
b.
of any of at least one of all three
characteristic characteristic characteristics

3 Does the essay discuss the target Living Target Target Target
demographic of the living space/housing? space target demographic is demographic demographic is
demographic is briefly discussed is adequately well discussed
NOT identified discussed
II. Research:
Research of existing green building sustainable processes, materials, and technologies.

Is there evidence of research into NO evidence of Research of Research of at

existing green building technologies a. research one green least two green
and criteria used today? technology technologies

Research is NOT Research of Research of at

in depth one green least two green
4
Judge’s Manual

b. technology technology
topic is in-depth topics is
in-depth

NO examples Examples are

c.
are presented presented

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 2009–2010 National Engineers Week • Future City Competition

Essay Rubric (continued)

0 1 2 3
City Layout Criteria Score
(Points) (Points) (Points) (Points)
III. Green Materials and Resources:
Develop and investigate a new technology or improvement to a technology to incorporate into the residential space to
insure sustainable/green design. The technology or innovation should aim to satisfy the “Green Ideals”.

Does the essay describe innovation A “Green” A “Green”

in “Green” materials and resources material/resource material/resource
a.
and how they function? innovation is innovation is
NOT identified identified

NO description Material/ Material/resource Material/

5 of how the resource innovation resource
b. material/resource innovation function innovation
innovation will function briefly adequately function well
function described described described

NO examples Examples are

c.
are presented presented

Does the essay describe how the chosen NO description Brief description Adequate How the living
materials will enable the living space to of how the living of how the living description of space adapts to
6 adapt to the community? space adapts to space adapts to how the living the community
the community the community space adapts to is well described
the community

Does the essay discuss the impact of the NO discussion of Brief discussion Adequate Impact on waste
7 chosen materials on construction waste? impact on waste of impact on discussion of is well discussed
waste impact on waste

Does the essay describe the impact of NO description Brief description Adequate The living space
the chosen materials on the living space of the living of the living description of aesthetics are
8
aesthetics (interior and exterior)? space aesthetics space aesthetics the living space well described
aesthetics

Does the essay describe what makes Economy and Economy and Economy and Economy and
the chosen material an economic, efficiency are efficiency are efficiency are efficiency are
a.
efficient and sustainable choice? NOT discussed. briefly discussed adequately well discussed
9 discussed

Sustainability is Sustainability is Sustainability

Judge’s Manual

Sustainability is
b. NOT discussed briefly discussed is adequately
well discussed
discussed

Does the essay describe the tradeoffs Tradeoffs Tradeoffs Tradeoffs between Tradeoffs
made between economic, efficient and between between economics, between
sustainable in the selection of the chosen economics, economics, efficiency, and economics,
10
building materials? efficiency, and efficiency, and sustainability efficiency, and
sustainability are sustainability are are adequately sustainability are
NOT discussed briefly discussed discussed well discussed

Does the essay discuss the environmental NO discussion of Brief Adequate Environmental
footprint or impact of the living space? environmental discussion of discussion of footprint is well
11
footprint environmental environmental discussed
footprint footprint
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 2009–2010 National Engineers Week • Future City Competition

Essay Rubric (continued)

0 1 2 3
City Layout Criteria Score
(Points) (Points) (Points) (Points)

IV. Function and Value of the Living Space:

Provide in-depth discussion of the function of the living space design or component(s) and its influence on the occupants and
community.

Does the essay discuss the durability and NO discussion Brief discussion Adequate Durability and
maintenance of the living space? of durability and of durability and discussion of maintenance are
12 maintenance is maintenance is durability and well discussed
provided provided maintenance is
provided

13 Does the essay provides a description of NO description Brief description Adequate Improvement
the improvements to the quality of life of improvement of improvement description of in the quality
of the living space occupants (including in the quality in the quality improvement of life for the
elderly and disabled)? of life for the of life for the in the quality occupants is
occupants. occupants. of life for the well described
occupants.

Does the essay discussion include NO discussion Brief discussion Adequate The benefits to
benefits of the living space design of benefits to of the benefits discussion of the the community
and its impact on the community a. the community to the benefits to the are well
and environment? provided by the community community discussed
living space
14
NO discussion of Brief discussion Adequate The benefits to
benefits to the of the benefits discussion of the the environment
b. environment to the benefits to the are well
provided by the environment environment discussed
living space
V. Role of the Engineer:
Identify an engineering discipline and its role in developing the living space design or components of the living space.
Does the essay discuss the role of An engineering An engineering
one engineering discipline in the a. discipline is NOT discipline is
development of the living space? identified identified

The role of the The role of the The role of the The role of the
15 engineer in engineer in engineer in engineer in
Judge’s Manual

developing the developing the developing the developing the

b. living space or living space or living space or living space or
its components its components its components its components
NOT discussed is briefly is adequately is well discussed
discussed discussed

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 2009–2010 National Engineers Week • Future City Competition

Essay Rubric (continued)

0 1 2 3
City Layout Criteria Score
(Points) (Points) (Points) (Points)
VI. Written Communications:

Assessment of the overall written presentation.

Well Written Poorly written Satisfactorily Exceptionally

16 and organized written and written and
organized organized

17 Grammar Many Some No

grammatical grammatical grammatical
errors errors errors

Spelling Many spelling Some spelling No spelling

18
errors errors errors

19 Length Fewer than Between 700

700 words or and 1000
more than words
1000 words

List of References Less than three At least three

a. appropriate appropriate
references references
20
References are References are
b. NOT correctly correctly listed
listed

Total Essay Points (0–70 points)

Judge’s Manual

33