Our Amazing Atmosphere Summative Assessment Rubric
You are an atmospheric scientist and you have been asked to share your expertise about the Earth’s atmosphere by
writing a feature article for a popular science magazine. The editors have asked you to include information about the
structure and composition of the Earth’s atmosphere as well as information on how it insulates and protects the
planet. Please be sure to include text features to enhance your reader’s understanding of these concepts. You may
use your notes in your science notebook, the information from your atmosphere flip book, and research from any
sources that you used. Make sure to cite your sources.in a bibliography at the end of your article.
4 Advanced
3 Proficient
2 Basic
1 Novice
The five layers of the
atmosphere have been
identified. Main
characteristics of each
layer of the
atmosphere have been
described in detail
based on the following
criteria:
Four layers of the
atmosphere have
been identified. Main
characteristics of each
layer of the
atmosphere have
been described based
on the following
criteria:
Two to three layers of
the atmosphere have
been identified. Some
characteristics of each
layer of the
atmosphere have
been described based
on the following
criteria:
One layer of the
atmosphere has been
identified. Few
characteristics of
each layer of the
atmosphere have
been described in
detail based on the
following criteria:
-Elevation
-Composition of gases
-Temperature
-Air pressure
-Unique characteristics
-Objects found
-Elevation
-Composition of gases
-Temperature
-Air pressure
-Unique
characteristics
-Objects found
-Elevation
-Composition of gases
-Temperature
-Air pressure
-Unique
characteristics
-Objects found
-Elevation
-Composition of
gases
-Temperature
-Air pressure
-Unique
characteristics
-Objects found
The article includes four
or more details about
how the greenhouse
effect insulates and
protects the planet.
The article includes
three details about
how the greenhouse
effect insulates and
protects the planet.
The article includes
two details about how
the greenhouse effect
insulates and protects
the planet.
The article includes
one detail about how
the greenhouse
effect insulates and
protects the planet.
Quality of Article
The article,
demonstrates
conceptual
understanding of the
topic, includes three
text features, and
includes three cited
sources in the
bibliography.
The article
demonstrates some
conceptual
understanding of the
topic, includes two
text features, and
includes two cited
sources in the
bibliography.
The article organized
demonstrates little
conceptual
understanding of the
topic, includes one
text feature, and
includes one cited
sources in the
bibliography.
The article
demonstrate weak
conceptual
understanding of the
topic, does not
include text features,
and does not include
a bibliography.
Total _____/____12
Comments:________________________________________________________________________
Composition and
Structure of the
Atmosphere






Elevation
Composition
of gases
Temperature
Air pressure
Unique
characteristics
Objects found
How Composition and
Structure Insulate the
Earth and Protect the
Planet
*Greenhouse Effect
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