Using Rubrics to

Evaluate
Assessments
Why a Rubric?

Can teachers describe excellent

work?
Do teachers agree on what excellent
work is?
Do teachers have a tool that can be
used to evaluate student work and
ultimately to gather data to evaluate
the effectiveness of their
What is a Rubric?

A rubric is a printed set of scoring guidelines for teachers to

evaluate & to give feedback to individual learners and to evaluate
groups of student work
 Components of a Rubric
Levels of Achievement ** (typically 3-4)
Criteria Exemplary Accomplished Developing Beginning
(competencies) 4 3 2 1

Stated Objective or Description- Description- Description- Description-

Performance within defining features of defining features defining features defining features
the assignment each work or of each work or of each work or of each work or
#1 performance performance performance performance
reflecting the reflecting mastery reflecting reflecting a
highest level of of performance development and beginning level of
performance movement toward performance
mastery of
performance

Stated Objective or
Performance within
the assignment
#2

**variations- excellent, satisfactory, unsatisfactory; or exemplary, proficient,

marginal, unacceptable; or sophisticated, competent, not yet competent
 Sample Rubric
Criteria Exemplary Accomplished Beginning
(competencies) 3 2 1

Writing Style: Logical progression of Most thoughts and Illogical progression of

thoughts and ideas. ideas progress logically ideas, disorganized
Organization & flow Concepts are clearly with satisfactory paragraphs and sections of
presented using good examples. Vocabulary is paper. Poorly written,
examples and college primarily at college vocabulary not at college
level vocabulary. Paper is level. Paper is fairly well level. Many grammatical
well organized from organized but may lack errors.
introduction to adequate flow and
conclusion statements. transition.

References: Reference list is typed; Reference list is typed, No Reference list; or

the citations match most are within the last incorrectly formatted,
Citations in APA reference list and are five years, and/or a few references are primarily
format, current and current (most within last are inappropriate to the secondary sources such as
appropriate five years), from peer topic. Minimal textbooks and/or from non-
reviewed journals, and secondary sources and peer reviewed journals,
are appropriate to the are appropriate to the and/or lay literature.
topic. topic.
 Sample Rubric with Different Scoring Example

Criteria Excellent Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

(competencies)

Appropriate The article has The article has good The article has little or
journal article excellent and sufficient and moderately no scientific merit. Not
selected scientific merit. From a sufficient scientific from a current peer
10 points current peer reviewed merit. From a current reviewed nursing
nursing journal peer reviewed journal (>5 years) or
(1-3 years). nursing or medical from a newspaper or
9-10 points journal (3-5 years). magazine.
7-8 points 0-6 points

Major points of Clearly and concisely Adequately stated Summary of major

article stated summary of summary of most points of article not
summarized in major points of article. points of article. concise- misses some
introduction 9-10 points 4-7 points points.
10 points 0-6 points
 Sample Rubric with Varied Scoring Weights

Criteria Exemplary Proficient Marginal Unacceptable

Content Essay covers Essay covers Essay covers Essay covers
30 points the entire topic, most of the only part of the little of the
creatively with topic with topic with weak topic in a
excellent depth average depth depth & scope. superficial
& scope. & scope. 15-20 pts manner.
25-30 pts 20-25 pts < 15 pts

Readings 75-100% of 50-75% of 25-50% of < 25% of

25 points readings used readings used readings used readings used
completely. completely. completely. completely.
20-25 pts 15-20 pts 10-15 pts < 10 pts

Logic, flow Ideas flow Ideas flow Ideas flow Ideas flow
and evidence clearly and adequately; poorly OR poorly AND
25 points essay uses some examples examples examples are
many strong given. are insufficient. insufficient.
examples. 15-20 pts 10-15 pts < 10 pts
20-25 pts
 Sample Rubric with Varied Scoring Weights
Criteria Excellent Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
(competencies)

Critical Thinking: Consistent evidence Majority of analysis Little or no evidence of

of strong critical has evidence of some critical thinking,
Agreement with thinking, synthesis critical thinking, synthesis or thoughtful
authors opinion and thoughtful synthesis and analysis.
analyzed & analysis in thoughtful analysis. 0-20 points
discussed comparing opinion. 21-26 points
30 points 27-30 points

Critical Thinking: Excellent and Incorporates a fair Poorly incorporated

comprehensive discussion of the relationship to
Issues impact on description of the impact on nursing economics, use of
nursing care impact on nursing care but not entirely health care resources,
analyzed care in relation to comprehensive and health promotion
20 points economics, use of relationship to in the description of the
health care economics & use of impact on nursing care.
resources, and resources health 0-13 points
health promotion. promotion.
18-20 points 14-17 points
Benefits to Teachers

Objective, consistent evaluation tool:

Evaluates individual student work

AND

Evaluates grouped student work enabling teachers to gather data

to evaluate the effectiveness of assessments