What Is a Rubric?
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What is a Rubric?
A rubric is a tool used to
guide and measure
expectations for an
assignment by listing the
criteria, or what counts, and
describing levels of quality
from excellent to poor.
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What are Rubrics?
Rubrics come in the form of checklists, scoring and rating scales. They are used
on a daily basis for many reasons.
Stop for a minute and think of a time you rated someone’s behavior whether it was
for their help on the phone, at a restaurant or you had to rate your car service, or
your meal based on certain criteria. If you have, then you have used a rubric.
The rubrics you will be using in this course are performance-based
assessments. These rubrics will be evaluating the performance on different
assignments, tasks or set of tasks that lead to a final product or learning
outcome.
Scoring rubrics use specific criteria for evaluating or assessing student
products. They use narrative descriptions that are separated into levels of
possible performance related to a given task.
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Scoring on Rubrics
On most rubrics the lowest score is usually listed
on the far left side and gradually progresses to the
highest level on the right. (as seen in these
examples)
Each level of performance assess the defined set of
tasks related to a final product or behavior.
Each level describe the degree of proficiency and is
assigned a value to rate the student, CSR, or
employee performance.
Rubric’s rating scales can be numerical, qualitative,
or a combination of numerical and qualitative.
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What Are Rubrics?
A scoring rubric is a guide used to assess both project-based
learning and student writing.
It helps students understand how they will be evaluated by
clearly defining levels of achievement and distinguishing great
work from poor work.
Each of the levels should contain specific, measurable
performance characteristics.
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Rubrics are also used in domains beyond education.
A rubric may be developed and used whenever performance or
compliance is to be assessed objectively.
For example, employee performance reports often contain a type of
rubric by listing criteria (e.g., customer focus) and a corresponding range
of performance indicators.
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Types of Rubrics
There are three types of rubrics. They are, scoring rubrics, checklists,
and rating scales. Each type help to evaluate academic work,
performances, and behavior. These types help provide the specific
guidelines and criteria for success in all different areas.
Instructors use rubrics as teaching tools, to raise expectations and
show students how to meet them. Some rubrics are very simple and
don’t require much time, and some are very detailed.
There are a few main differences between the three types:
Scoring Rubrics
Scoring rubrics are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Designed for evaluating (scoring, assessing, or grading) academic work/products
Arranged in grid format.
Explain in detail the type of work that matches the grade to use before and after
Used to increase success.
A visual representation of exactly what kind of work leads to each grade
Provide the most detailed representation of expectations.
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Types of Rubrics
Checklists
Checklists are:
•
•
•
•
•
An easier form of evaluation
Require a forced-choice answer like “yes” or “no”.
Used to communicate an instructor’s expectations to his or her
students by listing questions that students such as: “Did I use
correct spelling and grammar?” “Do I have three statements to
support my opinion?” “Did I complete the work on time?” etc.
Assessing a broad range of things from student work to behavioral
expectations
Used as an all-purpose assessment tool
Rating Scales
Rating Scales are:
• Using assigned numbers, such as 1-5 to their work
• Using grid-like formats (the higher the number, the higher the
criteria, the better the grade)
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How is a Scoring Rubric Used?
Criteria
The Criteria
Context &
(Performance
areas) are listed Purpose for
Writing
down the left
side of the page
in rows.
Minimal
attention to
context and
purpose
Content
Development
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highest grade
lowest grade
SIMPLE RUBRIC
Conclusions
and Related
Outcomes
Low to High grading range
Demonstrates
awareness of
contest and
purpose
Relevant content Relevant
used in some
content used to
simple ideas
develop &
explore
complex ideas
Inconsistent
conclusions;
outcomes are
over-simplified
Logical
conclusions;
clearlyidentified,
related
outcomes
Thorough
understanding
of context and
purpose
Compelling
content use to
illustrate
understanding
and mastery of
subject
Conclusions and
related
outcomes reflect
informed
evaluation
Descriptions of Performance for each criterion.
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Why Use Rubrics?
Performance-based assessments, such as rubrics are
used to:
• Evaluate work based off established criteria
• Provide a clear communication tool for feedback
between instructor and student
• Remove inconsistencies and subjectivity in grading
• Empower students to take responsibility for their
learning
• Provide a tool for students to use to review work and
make adjustments before submitting
• Allow students and instructors to identify progress,
strengths and weaknesses
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Why Use Rubrics and How Will They
Support YOUR Work?
• To objectively guide and
assess performance on
assignments
• To review before
beginning assignments in
order to fully understand
the expectations of the
instructor
• To guide and achieve the
highest possible outcome
or score
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SIMPLE RUBRIC
Criteria
Context & Purpose for Writing
Minimal attention to context and purpose
Demonstrates awareness of contest and purpose
Thorough understanding of context and purpose
Content Development
Relevant content used in some simple ideas
Relevant content used to develop & explore complex ideas
Compelling content use to illustrate understanding and mastery of subject
Conclusions and Related Outcomes
Inconsistent conclusions; outcomes are over‐simplified
Logical conclusions; clearly‐identified, related outcomes
Conclusions and related outcomes reflect informed evaluation Example: In order to achieve the highestpossible performance level (MASTERY) in
the Content Development criteria of an
assignment, focus on meeting the
requirements in the highlighted cell on the
Simple Rubric.
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How Rubrics Benefit YOU
•
Rubrics clarify for you what is required to succeed.
•
When feedback on course work is based on a rubric, you learn
more from your mistakes.
•
Rubrics have an even greater effect when you practice using
rubrics to judge your own work and the work of others.
•
Applying rubrics to one another’s work helps you better
understand how rubrics can be used to guide your own work.
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How Rubrics Benefit YOU
• Using rubrics lets you, the learner, know the
purpose and expectations of the work before you
begin.
• The use of rubrics as a tool for scoring work, has
the potential for giving you the power and
responsibility that goes with knowing what is being
asked of you and how to achieve it.
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Why Assess One Another?
Peer-to-Peer ratings using rubrics:
• Empowers you to take responsibility for and
manage your own learning
• Help you to learn to consider and develop lifelong assessment skills
• Motivates you to get involved with your course
material more deeply
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