Counter-Narrative Essay Assessment Rubric

Unit 2: Decolonized History | Years 9-10 | 100 points total

Assessment Task:

Write a 600-800 word counter-narrative essay that challenges a colonial version of NZ history. Choose one event (e.g., Land Wars, Treaty signing, Dawn Raids) and retell it centering Māori perspectives, agency, and resistance.

Must include: Primary sources, Māori voices, analysis of power structures, and your critical reflection.

Criterion Excellent (A)
24-25 pts		 Proficient (B)
20-23 pts		 Developing (C)
15-19 pts		 Beginning (D-E)
0-14 pts
Counter-Narrative Strength
(25 points)
 Powerfully challenges colonial narrative with specific, nuanced alternative perspective. Centers Māori agency & resistance throughout. Shows deep understanding of what was hidden/distorted in colonial version. Clearly challenges colonial narrative with Māori perspective. Shows agency & resistance. Identifies key distortions in colonial version. Attempts counter-narrative but inconsistent. Some Māori perspective present. Unclear which colonial narrative is being challenged. Retells colonial narrative with minimal Māori perspective. No clear challenge to dominant story. Lacks understanding of counter-narrative purpose.
Primary Sources & Evidence
(20 points)
 Uses 3+ relevant primary sources (at least 1 Māori voice). Analyzes sources critically (authorship, bias, context). Integrates smoothly with own analysis. Proper citations. Uses 2-3 primary sources (includes Māori voice). Some analysis of sources. Citations present. Generally integrated well. Uses 1-2 sources, may be secondary. Limited analysis. Citations incomplete. Sources feel "dropped in" not integrated. No primary sources or only secondary sources. No analysis of evidence. Missing or incorrect citations.
Power & Structural Analysis
(20 points)
 Explicitly analyzes who had power, how it was used, who benefited/harmed. Connects individual events to larger colonial structures. Shows understanding of systemic oppression. Identifies power dynamics. Connects to larger patterns. Some structural analysis present. Mentions power but doesn't analyze it deeply. Treats events as isolated incidents. Limited connection to systems. No power analysis. Presents history as "things that happened" with no analysis of why or who benefited.
Critical Reflection & Voice
(15 points)
 Strong personal voice. Reflects critically on own positionality & learning. Questions whose stories get told & why. Shows growth in understanding. Some personal reflection. Acknowledges learning. Questions whose stories matter. Minimal reflection. Mostly summary. Limited personal voice or critical questioning. No reflection. Pure summary. No personal voice or critical thinking visible.
Writing Quality & Structure
(20 points)
 Clear thesis. Well-organized paragraphs. Strong topic sentences. Smooth transitions. Compelling introduction/conclusion. 600-800 words. Minimal errors. Clear structure. Good paragraphs. Identifiable thesis. Meets word count. Few errors. Weak structure. Unclear thesis. Paragraphs lack focus. Word count off. Errors distract from meaning. No clear structure. No thesis. Poor paragraphs. Significantly under/over word count. Frequent errors impede understanding.

Grade Conversion:

  • A (Excellence): 90-100 points
  • B (Merit): 75-89 points
  • C (Achieved): 50-74 points
  • D-E (Not Achieved): 0-49 points

📚 Teacher Marking Guide:

Common Strengths to Look For:

  • Student quotes Māori leaders/activists directly (not filtered through Pākehā historians)
  • Student names the oppressor (government, settlers, colonial system)—not passive voice
  • Student shows Māori resistance & strategy, not just victimhood
  • Student questions why they were taught the colonial version first

Red Flags:

  • Uses passive voice to hide colonial violence ("land was taken" vs "Crown confiscated land")
  • Relies solely on secondary sources/textbooks
  • Presents history as inevitable or "tragic" (removes agency from colonizers)
  • No Māori voices—only writes ABOUT Māori, not centering their perspectives
  • Treats counter-narrative as "another side" rather than challenging whose version is "official"

Feedback Examples:

Excellent: "Your use of Hōne Heke's own words to explain why he cut down the flagstaff powerfully counters the colonial 'rebellion' narrative. You show his actions as deliberate political resistance to Crown authority."

Needs Improvement: "You summarized the Land Wars timeline well, but I don't see a clear counter-narrative. What colonial version are you challenging? Try centering Māori strategy & leadership, not just describing battles."