This document outlines the process of creating rubrics for assessing student assignments, detailing essential components such as assignment criteria, achievement levels, and descriptions for each level. It provides step-by-step guidelines for defining criteria and levels of achievement, along with an example rubric for an art history assignment that assesses students' ability to identify cultural symbols, heroes, and rituals. The document emphasizes the importance of clear expectations and descriptions in evaluating student performance.

1. Creating Rubrics
Worksheet

2. TOP PAGE
Rubric Design
A rubric is a scoring tool that describes the specific criteria on which student assignments will
be assessed. This same rubric can be used across multiple sections of a course to assess student
artifacts for the purpose of course assessment. Three essential components of the assignment are
identified in a rubric:
1. Assignment criteria
2. Achievement levels for each assignment criterion (e.g. exemplary, acceptable, unacceptable)
3. Description of each achievement level for each assignment criterion
2. Achievement Levels
Assignment
Criteria
1. Assignment
Criteria
Exemplary up to xx points Satisfactory up to x points
description of
criterion 1
description of exemplary
accomplishment on
criterion 1
description of satisfactory
accomplishment on
criterion 1
x points
xx points
description of
criterion 2
description of exemplary
accomplishment on
criterion 2
description of satisfactory
accomplishment on
criterion 2
xx points
description of
criterion 3
description of exemplary
accomplishment on
criterion 3
did not meet
criterion 1
0 points
did not meet
criterion 2
0 points
description of satisfactory
did not meet
accomplishment on
criterion 3
criterion 2
0 points
xx points
x points
3. Achievement Level Description
1
x points
No Credit 0
points

3. STEP 1: Define the assignment criteria

describe in concrete terms to specific tasks/student performance that will be assessed

look to the assignment sheet for these tasks
STEP 2: Define the levels of achievement for each criteria

e.g. Exemplary, Satisfactory, No Credit

CAUTION: define levels carefully; what’s the difference between “fair” and “good”

include maximum point value for each level

consider the number of categories required to determine the range of performance quality,
but in general use a 3‐point to 7‐point scale
STEP 3: Write the description of each achievement level for each criterion


2
define in concrete terms the kind of performance required to achieve that level
include maximum point value for each criterion achievement level

4. Draft a Rubric for an Assignment
2. Achievement Levels
Assignment Criteria
Exemplary up to xx points
Satisfactory up to x points
No Credit 0 points
1. Assignment
Criteria
xx points
x points
0 points
xx points
x points
0 points
x points
xx points
0 points
xx points
x points
0 points
xx points
3. Achievement Level Description
3
x points
0 points

5. Assignment Example with Rubric From an Art
History Course
Homework Assignment 1: Symbols, Heroes, & Rituals Paper
Due at the beginning of class
Total possible points: 50
One of the great pleasures – and challenges – of studying works of art is to interpret what they say
about the values held by the originating culture. In any period, values are expressed through a
culture’s symbols, heroes, and rituals. This semester we will consider the symbols, heroes, and
rituals of each culture we study and discuss what these concepts say about the culture’s values.
SYMBOLS: Words, gestures, pictures, or objects that carry a particular meaning only recognized as
such by those who share the culture
HEROES: Persons, alive or dead, real or imaginary, who possess characteristics that are highly
prized in a culture and thus serve as models for behavior
RITUALS: Collective activities, technically superfluous to reaching desired ends, but which within a
culture are considered socially essential
The majority of the images we study this semester will reference a culture’s symbols, heroes,
and/or rituals. At times we’ll see all three concepts in the same image! Before looking for these
concepts in the very old images we’ll study this semester, you have an opportunity to identify them
in imagery of our current era.
Assignment Requirements:
1. Watch TV or YouTube clips, look at images from the movies, look through newspapers and
magazines, look at the billboards along the roads and identify 2 (two) examples of American
symbols, 2 (two) examples of American heroes, and 2 (two) examples of rituals that are
meaningful.
2. Write a brief synopsis of the 6 (six) examples that includes the following information:
1. Identify the image – what product it advertises, what person it depicts, etc. – and explain
what’s going on
2. Associate the image with one concept (symbols, heroes, or rituals)
3. In three to four sentences each, explain how the image/person/etc. expresses the
concept and what the image says about what our culture values
3. This assignment is due at the beginning of class. You may submit it via the LMS drop box in or in
hardcopy. Remember that I will only accept word‐processed papers … handwritten documents
are simply not acceptable. Multi‐page papers must be stapled together … folded edges or paper
clips just won’t do!
4

6. Homework Assignment 1 Grading Rubric
Criterion
Exemplary up to
Satisfactory up to
50 points
35 points
Below
Expectations up
No Credit 0 points
to 20 points
Identified/explained
image
Identified 6 images;
Identified 3‐5 images
Identified 1‐2 images
Did not identify
images
0 points
4 points
10 points
7 points
Accurately associated Each image (6) was
image with concept
carefully and
accurately associated
with a concept
10 points
3‐5 images were
accurately associated
with a concept
1‐2 images were
accurately associated
with a concept
Images were not
accurately associated
with a concept
7 points
4 points
0 points
Explained how image
expresses the
concept
Explanations with
each image (6)
clearly and
convincingly
expressed the
concept
10 points
Explanations with
images
(3‐5) were
questionable
7 points
Explanations with
images
(1‐2) did not fit
Explanations (6)
about cultural values
were clear and
convincing
Explanations (3‐5)
about cultural values
were ambiguous
Explanations (1‐2)
about cultural values
were unconvincing
20 points
14 points
Explained what the
image says about
what our culture
values
5
4 points
Did not provide
explanations with
images
0 points
Did not provide
explanations about
cultural values
8 points
0 points