ASSESS STUDENTS
Example: General analytic rubric for a writing assignment
Evaluators should rank each piece of writing on the following criteria on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 4(highest)
1. Introduction
1. =no or poor introduction.
2-3 =some introduction; nothing beyond a forecast.
4-5 =introduction grasps reader’s attention (engages the reader) and forecasts major points.
2. Articulation of thesis
1 =no or poor articulation of thesis.
2-3 =some articulation of thesis
3-4 =clear articulation of thesis or argument.
3. Paragraph development
1 =poor paragraphs with no clear topic sentence; multiple topics; little or no development
2-3 =some structure and development of paragraphs and/or some with clear topic sentences or focus, but not consistently.
3-4 =paragraphs are consistently well developed, with a clear topic sentence and appropriate number of sentences that provide examples and develop points.
4. Use of examples
1 =little or no use of examples.
2-3 =some use of examples or evidence, but not consistent; no examples or evidence in places where they are needed
3-4 =frequent or consistent use of examples and evidence; example or evidence appears whenever the reader asks, “For instance?”
5. Conclusion
1 =no or poor conclusion or summary of argument
2-3 =some summary of points made, but nothing beyond summary; no broad conclusions/lessons
3-4 =a conclusion going beyond summary of what was written in the body of the essay.
6. Transitions
1 =little or no transition between paragraphs; poor flow
2-3 =some transition or flow between paragraphs; partial structure to argument
3-4 =strong and/or consistent transition between points in essay; strong flow
7. Variation of sentences
1 =little or no variation of sentences; monotonous use of sentence type. (length/ complexity).
2-3 =some variation of sentences. Sentences of varying length or type, but not varied effectively.
3-4 =effective variation of sentence length and type.
8. Coherence
1 =lack of coherence; i.e. mismatch between the thesis and the body; tangents
2-3 =occasional tangents; repetition
3-4 =every paragraph works to support the thesis; “linked” paragraphs