Paul Leslie from the Education Faculty at Sharjah Women's College discusses using rubrics for grading. A rubric is provided that evaluates student work across four categories: critical understanding, structure and organization, references, and language usage. Each category is worth a different percentage of the total grade. Scores are assigned on a scale of 1-10 for each category. An example of a completed rubric is shown grading a student's work. The grades for each category are multiplied by the category's weight and added together to calculate the student's total score in Excel. Resources are also provided on the Excel sheet used, rubric grading, and using discussion boards for assessment.

1. P A U L L E S L I E
E D U C A T I O N F A C U L T Y
S H A R J A H W O M E N ’ S C O L L E G E
Excel for Grading with Rubrics

2. Rubric
A B C
Category / Score 9-10 8 7
Critical understanding
50%
Score:_____
Insightful and possible
interpretations of the data and
comparisons between the data.
Critical review and reflection of own
interpretations provided.
Strong critical understanding of the
research as a whole as well as key
aspects
Possible interpretations of the data
and comparisons between the data.
Provided some critical review and/or
reflection of own interpretations of
the data.
Reasonable critical understanding of
the research as a whole with most key
aspects provided.
Interpretations of the data and
comparisons between the data may not
indicate a sound understanding of
research.
Shallow, misinterpreted or minimal
critical review and/or reflection of own
interpretations of the data.
Overly opinionated leading to
misinterpretation of the data.
Structure and
organization
30%
Score:_____
Information is presented through a
variety of means and aligned to the
highest qualities of an infographic.
The notes clearly supplement the
infographic enabling the reader to
obtain the complete picture.
Headings were appropriate and
identified major aspects of the area
related to the research or data
trends.
Information is presented through
several means but there are errors or
does not reflect highest qualities of
an infographic.
Some of the notes supplement the
infographic but leaves the reader
having to do more work to connect
information from both sources.
Headings did not always capture the
major aspects of research article.
Information is presented using limited
variety and dependent on words and
headings in the infographic.
The notes do not always supplement the
infographic but leave the reader having
to do far too much work to connect
information from both sources.
Headings are not always appropriate.
References
10%
Excellent – all entries correctly
used APA style;
References are apt.
Good – some minor errors in the
entries using APA style; most
references are apt.
Some errors in the entries using APA
style; references are often not relevant
or incomplete.
Language Usage
10%
Score: ______
All written text is free of errors
Shows appropriate vocabulary
All written text is free of errors
Shows strong attempts at appropriate
vocabulary
All written text is mostly free of errors
Some inappropriate vocabulary

3. Rubric with grades
A B C
Category / Score 9-10 8 7
Critical understanding
50%
Score:___8__
Insightful and possible
interpretations of the data and
comparisons between the data.
Critical review and reflection of own
interpretations provided.
Strong critical understanding of the
research as a whole as well as key
aspects
Possible interpretations of the data
and comparisons between the data.
Provided some critical review and/or
reflection of own interpretations of
the data.
Reasonable critical understanding of
the research as a whole with most key
aspects provided.
Interpretations of the data and
comparisons between the data may not
indicate a sound understanding of
research.
Shallow, misinterpreted or minimal
critical review and/or reflection of own
interpretations of the data.
Overly opinionated leading to
misinterpretation of the data.
Structure and
organization
30%
Score:___8.3__
Information is presented through a
variety of means and aligned to the
highest qualities of an infographic.
The notes clearly supplement the
infographic enabling the reader to
obtain the complete picture.
Headings were appropriate and
identified major aspects of the area
related to the research or data
trends.
Information is presented through
several means but there are errors or
does not reflect highest qualities of
an infographic.
Some of the notes supplement the
infographic but leaves the reader
having to do more work to connect
information from both sources.
Headings did not always capture the
major aspects of research article.
Information is presented using limited
variety and dependent on words and
headings in the infographic.
The notes do not always supplement the
infographic but leave the reader having
to do far too much work to connect
information from both sources.
Headings are not always appropriate.
References
10% __8.5___
Excellent – all entries correctly
used APA style;
References are apt.
Good – some minor errors in the
entries using APA style;
most references are apt.
Some errors in the entries using APA
style; references are often not relevant
or incomplete.
Language Usage
10%
Score: ___8.3___
All written text is free of errors
Shows appropriate vocabulary
All written text is free of errors
Shows strong attempts at appropriate
vocabulary
All written text is mostly free of errors
Some inappropriate vocabulary

4. Score in Excel
 =(B3*0.5)+(C3*0.3)+(D3*0.1)+(E3*0.1)
 The formula goes in F4 – then simply drag the
formula down to all the cells.
1 A B C D E F
2 Student task structure lit lang
3
50% 30% 10% 10% 4003_data
4 1 8.5 8.5 8 8.5 8.5
5 2 6.5 7 7 7 6.8
6 3 7.5 7.2 7 8 7.4
7 4 9.5 8 9 8 8.9
8 5 7.2 7.5 7 7 7.3
9 6 6.5 6.5 6 7 6.5
10 7 8 9 8 7.5 8.3
11 8 8 8.8 9 8 8.3

5. Rubrics in BB9
Levels of Achievement
Criteria Excellent Proficient
Meets exact
requirements
Minimal
requirements
Below requirements
Task
Weight 20.00%
87 to 100 %
More than 2 points are
critically analysed.
Teaching presence is
strong, positive and
insightful Numerous
(more than 5) initial
and secondary
comments given
80 to 86 %
Points are useful
Teaching presence is
strong and positive
Numerous (more than
3) initial and
secondary comments
given
70 to 79 %
Points are
distinguished Teaching
presence positive
Numerous (more than
1) initial and
secondary comments
given
60 to 70 %
1 Point Teaching
presence evident 1
comment given
0 to 60 %
Unclear no teaching
presence no
comments given
Organization
Weight 30.00%
87 to 100 %
Structure of response
highlights point of topic
and reflects original
thinking Comments
and secondary
comments reflect,
incorporate and offer
new viewpoints
80 to 86 %
Structure of response
highlights point of topic
70 to 79 %
Structure of response
contributes to
understanding
60 to 70 %
Structure of response
contributes seems
somewhat confusing
Comments
acknowledge other
viewpoints
0 to 60 %
Structure of response
contributes is
confusing
Language
Weight 30.00%
87 to 100 %
Written text shows
glimpses of fluency
80 to 86 %
Written text is fully
comprehensible
70 to 79 %
Written text is fully
comprehensible with
effort.
60 to 70 %
Contains passages
that are not
comprehensible
0 to 60 %
Mainly
incomprehensible
Comments
Weight 20.00%
87 to 100 %
Comments and
secondary comments
reflect, incorporate and
offer new viewpoints
80 to 86 %
Comments reflect and
incorporate other
viewpoints
70 to 79 %
Comments reflect
understanding of other
viewpoints
60 to 70 %
Comments
acknowledge others
0 to 60 %
Comments do not
regularly acknowledge
other viewpoints

6. Resources
 Click here for the excel sheet and original assessment
document used in the rubric grading
 Click here for another presentation on the use of
discussion boards for assessment.
 Click here for yet another discussion of discussion
boards in BB9 and the community of inquiry