What Is a Scoring Rubric?
A scoring rubric is a written form of communication between two people or groups that serves as an evaluation of work or effort. They are generally numbered scales with an explanation or standard assigned to each number. The individual compiling the scoring rubric is the evaluator and the person or group receiving the rubric is the object of evaluation. Scoring rubrics, also called grading rubrics or just rubrics, are used frequently by teachers to provide students with a guideline for completing papers or projects and can serve to communicate what is required or expected. Businesses may also use scoring rubrics for employee evaluations.
Teachers may use a scoring rubric to help their students not only understand what is expected of their work, but to also understand the grade they receive. Though a scoring rubric can be assigned any set amount of numbers and standards, they often consist of five, with five signifying the best possible mark and representing all requirements. The requirements or standards assigned to each number generally decline with each lower number and the overall evaluation is based on how closely the maximum requirements are met.
Similarly, businesses may use a scoring rubric to evaluate an employee’s overall work performance or their performance on a particular project. Those receiving the evaluations may be presented with a rubric that consists of a scale containing any amount of numbers with standards being assigned to each number based on the specific project or the company’s overall expectations.
Scoring rubrics can convey a vast amount of information when properly written. Unlike a simple scale of say, one to ten, a scoring rubric can be a more concise means of conveying information. When all the requirements are listed and clearly explained, the recipient of evaluation can more easily understand where their weaknesses may be. For the evaluator, such as a teacher, creating scoring rubrics allows for personal expectations to be clearly explained.
Though businesses may have standard scoring rubrics created for their company, many teachers have to create scoring rubrics on a case by case basis with each assignment. There are software programs that will create rubrics, but most any type of scoring rubric can be created in any word processing or spreadsheet program. The key to a successful scoring rubric is in the clarity of the information. Using clear and concise terms when wording your expectations will leave little room for the recipient to be confused about their evaluation or grade.
Written by J. Beam
