A scoring rubric is a technique used to evaluate student performance on the primary traits we identify as important elements we expect in student performance. It is a way of ranking that performance along a continuum that ranks the performance into classifications from ideal to unsatisfactory. Rubrics are useful in assessing student performance on written work, oral presentations, laboratory reports and can also be used to evaluate student portfolios. When shared with students, they also communicate the standards of performance that instructors expect form students.

Rubrics also improve the fairness of evaluation of student performance and build common scoring standards across faculty members in a discipline.

How to create and use a scoring rubric:

For a good step-by-step outline see:

Creating Scoring Rubrics - Assessment Handbook. (n.d.) Department of Assessment, Skidmore College.

http://www.skidmore.edu/administration/assessment/H_Creating_Scoring_Rubrics.htm

The following template is useful in constructing assessment rubrics for your courses:

State the assignment or skill that this rubric is intended to assess.

For example: Scoring Rubric for Research Papers in ECO 155

	1 Developing Lowest Level of Performance	2 Competent Middle Level of Performance	3 Exceptional Best Performance Level	Score
Stated Trait or Performance Characteristic For Example: Thesis - well developed	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a developing performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting competent performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting exceptional performance.	1 - 3
Stated Trait or Performance Characteristic For Example: Organization supports argument	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a developing performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting competent performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting exceptional performance.	1 - 3
Stated Trait or Performance Characteristic For Example: Critical Reasoning	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a developing performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting competent performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting exceptional performance.	1 - 3
Stated Trait or Performance Characteristic For Example: Grammar and Mechanics	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a developing performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting competent performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting exceptional performance.	1 - 3

Some Examples:

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Biology Essay

Biology Report (pdf)

Business (pdf)

Critical Thinking (pdf)

Economics Essay

Geography (pdf)

Interdisciplinary Honors Course

Multimedia Project

Nursing (pdf)

Oral Presentation

Psychology Term Paper

Research Project

Scientific Report

Writing Assessment