Benefits of Using Rubrics:
1. Focus on What's Most Important
- Decide: What skills, concepts or facts do you want student to understand at the end of the assignment?
- Weight the parts of the rubric so that what is most important for the students to learn is the largest part of the grade
- For example, if the content (facts and information) of a project is the focus (what you want the students to spend most of their time on), then most of the rubric points should be on content skills, with fewer points, if any, used for other skills such as neatness and spelling
2. Provide Clear Expectations
- Let the students know exactly what they are expected to learn and/or do
- Give them a target to aim toward
3. Grade Objectively
- Clear expectations make it easier to grade consistently and with less subjection
- Once the rubric is established, grading often becomes faster and easier
4. Effective Student Self-Evaluation
- Students can use the rubric to assess their own work, resulting in a better understanding of what they have accomplished and what they can work on for next time
5. Track Progress
- Be able to identify specific improvements within a concept or skill
Rubric Examples:
Basic Paragraph Writing Rubric
Group Work:
1pt - Student let others do most of the work, was rude or disrespectful, and wasted most of the work time |
2pts - Student did less than a fair share of the work, was sometimes disrespectful to group members, and/or wasted a lot of work time |
3pts - Student did a fair share of the work, was respectful to group members most of the time, and/or used most of the class time wisely |
4 pts - Student did an equal share of the work; shared with, listened to, and showed respect for group members; stayed on task |
Project Appearance:
1pt - Sloppy, no labels. It looks like the group rushed to get it done. |
2pts - Some color, very little detail. The labels are incomplete and/or missing on several major parts. |
3pts - Nice, colorful, but not much detail. Almost all of the major parts are labeled and explained. |
4 pts - Neat, colorful, attractive, detailed. This project is fun to look at. All of the major parts are labeled and explained. |
Spelling/Grammar (on Project):
1pt - Mistakes make it very difficult for the reader to understand the project |
2pts - Many mistakes; causes the reader to re-read in order to understand |
3pts - Few mistakes; the reader may be distracted from what is being said |
4 pts - Few mistakes, if any; errors do not distract from the project |
Resources (on Project):
1pt - Used only one or two resources |
2pts - Used few resources and/or used resources that were all the same type |
3pts - Used several different resources, but not many resource types |
4 pts - Used a variety of resource types, including the internet, history books, an atlas, and an encyclopedia |
Bibliography:
1pt - No list of resources |
2pts - List of resources missing information and/or only includes 2-4 sources |
3pts - List of at least 5 resources; missing information about the resources |
4 pts - List of at least 5 resources; includes title, author, and page number of books and title and address of websites |
Accuracy of Information (on Project):
1 pt - Much of the information is incorrect |
2 pts - Some of the information is questionable or incorrect; no facts are given |
3 pts - Information is generally accurate; no specific facts are given |
4 pts - Information shows evidence of research; specific facts are used to explain and defend choices |
Rubric from 5th Grade Social Studies Project (U.S. Colonies):
1 pt |
2 pts |
3 pts |
4 pts |
|
Location: Description |
Description incomplete; little or no explanation given |
Few reasons are given; it is unclear why this location was chosen |
Includes general reasons for choice |
Includes specific, detailed, fact-based reasons for choosing the location for their colony (may include climate, resources, etc.) |
Location: Map |
Few, if any, parts of map are labeled and/or labels are incorrect; location of village is unclear |
Several labels are missing and/or are incorrect |
Most of the original colonies are labeled; village location is clear; at least two landforms are labeled |
Map of thirteen colonies includes name of thirteen original colonies, location of students’ village, and names of at least three major landforms |
Aerial View of Village |
Difficult to understand; labels and explanations are missing or incomplete |
Lay-out must be studied to be understood; labels are incomplete; no explanation given |
Lay-out is easy to understand and major parts are labeled; reason for lay-out is unclear |
Lay-out of town is easy to understand; major buildings and parts are labeled; reason for lay-out is explained clearly |
Colonists- Skills |
List of occupations is incomplete or inaccurate for the time period |
Fewer than 10 occupations listed and/or explanations of three are incomplete or missing |
List of 10 colonists’ occupations includes specific skills; explanations of three occupations are general |
List of at least 10 colonists’ occupations includes specific skills needed that are accurate for the time period; explanations of three occupations are complete and fact-based |
Novel Reading Assignment:
Handout with directions given to students: "Adventure Novel Study"
1 Point |
2 Points |
3 Points |
4 Points |
|
Details/Examples (Counts double) |
2 or fewer specific examples from the book are used. |
3-4 specific examples from the book are used. |
Five or more specific examples from the book are used. |
Five or more specific examples from the book are used. Page numbers are included. |
Directions |
Assignment is incomplete. |
Assignment is missing one part. |
Assignment is complete. Most directions were followed. |
Assignment is complete. All directions were followed. |
Work |
One of those |
Two of those |
Three of those |
Neat, colorful and/or in pen, correct spelling and grammar throughout |
Reading Assignment:
Historical Fiction Reading Assignment Choices
1 pt |
2 pts |
3 pts |
Lacks specific details. Work is generic or lacking examples. |
Two to four specific examples from the book are used. |
Five or more specific details, examples, and/or quotes from book are used |
Has one of those traits |
Has two of those traits |
Work shows effort/time spent, is colorful, looks “finished” |
One Point Each: _______ Followed Directions _______ Correct Spelling _______ Correct Grammar _______ Neat and easy to read |
TOTAL: (Out of 10)
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Rubric Resources:
- Create your own rubrics from available templates and categories; can be personalized
- 43 different rubrics for specific student projects and writings, such as a multi-media presentation or a personal letter
- Wide variety of ready-to-use rubrics and resources
