Rubric for Assessment of American Sign Language Expressive Skills: Narrative Task

Name:
Total Score = _________/20
Assignment: Signing Sentences about Relationships

Category

Unsatisfactory
1

Below Expectations
2

Meets expectations
3

Exceeds Expectations
4

Clarity and
Rate

Students signing is unintelligible;

student requires adult model or asks for
considerable help during performance.

Student has jerky hand

movements and choppy use of
signs.
Students has frequent
incorrect formation of signs;
very difficult to understand
signs.

Student makes a few errors in

production. Omissions occur, but
message is clearly understood.
Student hesitates slightly when
signing.

Students message is easily understood;

No errors in production.
Student signs with a smooth flow and
with confidence.

Vocabulary
and Structure

Student does not incorporate target

vocabulary. Often the student substitutes
mime, gesture or finger spelling for
signs. Student does not incorporate past
vocabulary and content is often
repetitive. Student does not use detail.

Student rarely uses new/target

vocabulary and limited ASL
structure. Student has some
repetitive content and rarely
expands, describes and
provides details.

Student demonstrates excellent use of

new/target vocabulary and ASL
structure. Student incorporates many
new vocabulary words, often
incorporating wide variety of ideas and
vocabulary. Student often expands,
describes and provides details.

Organization

Student exhibits no logical flow and

Is very disorganized.

Student exhibits unclear

progression and is
disorganized.

Student demonstrates fair usage of

new/target vocabulary and adequate
ASL structure. Student incorporates
some previously learned vocabulary,
using a variety of ideas and
vocabulary. Student sometimes
expands, describes and provides
details.
Students message is apparent. Student
exhibits an occasional lack in flow.

Variety and
length of
utterances

Student uses short phrases and single

sign utterances throughout dialogue.
Student does not use transitions.

Student signs short sentences

(3-4 signs) throughout
dialogue with very little use of
transitions.

Student signs sentences, however, all

tend to be the same length with few
transitions and/or conjunctions.

Student incorporates a higher level of

variety of sentence lengths. Student at
times signs complex sentences with
transitions and/or conjunctions.

Grammar and
Expressions

Student shows:
No indexing.
No facial expressions or inflection.
No eye contact.
No non-manual markers.

Student shows:
Limited use of indexing.
Limited facial expression and
inflection.
Limited eye contact.
Limited use of non-manual
markers.

Student shows:
Good use of indexing.
Adequate use of facial expressions and
inflection.
Maintains fair eye contact but tends to
read.
Some non- manual markers
appropriately.

Student shows:
Excellent use of indexing.
Excellent use of facial expressions and
inflection to match intent.
Excellent eye contact.
Many non- manual markers
appropriately.

Students message is clearly understood

and narrative flows well.