This rubric evaluates podcasts on the water cycle based on several categories: introduction, content, delivery, interviews, music/graphics, technical production, and group work. An exemplary podcast would have a catchy introduction engaging the audience about the water cycle. It would provide accurate, succinct information from a variety of expert sources. The delivery would be rehearsed with clear enunciation. It could include interesting interviews and music/graphics that enhance the presentation without being distracting. The technical production would have smooth transitions and consistent volume. An exemplary group project would have equal contribution from all members to the finished product.

1. Podcast Rubric for the Water Cycle
Partially Unsatisfacto
CATEGORY Exemplary Proficient POINTS
Proficient ry
Introductio 9 points 6 points 3 points 0 points ___/9
n
Catchy and Describes the Somewhat Irrelevant or
clever water cycle engaging inappropriat
introduction. and engages (covers well- e
Provides the audience known facts information
relevant as the about the that
information introduction water cycle), minimally
about the proceeds. and provides engages
water cycle a vague listener.
and purpose. Does not
establishes a include an
clear purpose introduction
engaging the or the
listener purpose is
immediately. vague and
unclear.
Tells who is Tells most of Alludes to Speaker is
speaking, date the following: who is not
the podcast who is speaking, date identified.
was produced, speaking, date of the podcast, No
and where the of the podcast, and location production
speaker is and location of speaker. date or
located. of speaker. location of
the speaker
is provided.

2. Content 9 points 6 points 3 points 0 points ___/9
Creativity and Accurate Some Information
original information is information is is
content provided inaccurate or inaccurate.
enhance the succinctly. long-winded.
purpose of the
podcast in an
innovative
way. Accurate
information
and succinct
concepts are
presented.
Vocabulary Vocabulary is Vocabulary is Vocabulary
enhances appropriate. adequate. is
content. inappropriat
e for the
audience.
Includes a Includes Includes some Includes no
wide variety appropriate variety of source
of and informative quotes.
appropriate, informative quotes from
well- quotes from some “expert”
researched “expert” sources.
and sources. Source quotes
informative Source quotes need some
sources and are credited editing and
has well- appropriately. some credits
edited quotes are missing.
from “expert”
sources.
Quotes and
sources of
information
are credited
appropriately.
Keeps focus Stays on the Occasionally Does not
on the topic. topic. strays from stay on
the topic. topic.
Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion No
clearly summarizes vaguely conclusion is
summarizes information. summarizes provided.
key key
information. information

3. Delivery 3 points 2 points 1 point 0 points ___/3
Well Rehearsed, Appears Delivery is
rehearsed, smooth unrehearsed hesitant, and
smooth delivery. with uneven choppy and
delivery in a delivery. sounds like
conversationa the
l style. presenter is
reading.
Highly Enunciation, Enunciation, Enunciation
effective expression, expression, of spoken
enunciation, pacing are rhythm are word is not
expression, effective. sometimes clearly
and rhythm distracting. understanda
keep the ble or
audience expression,
listening. and rhythm
are
distracting
throughout
the podcast.
Correct Correct Occasionally Poor
grammar is grammar is incorrect grammar is
used used during grammar is used
throughout the podcast. used during throughout
the podcast. the podcast. the podcast.
Interview 6 points 4 points 2 points 0 points ___/6
Open ended Open ended Open ended Only yes-or-
questions and questions and questions and no questions
follow-up are follow-up follow-up are used. No
used that questions are questions are follow-up
draw used occasionally questions
interesting appropriately. irrelevant to are asked.
and relevant the topic.
information
from the
interviewee.

4. Music 6 points 4 points 2 points 0 points ___/6
Enhanceme
nts and The graphics/ The graphics/ The graphics/ The graphics
Optional artwork used artwork relate artwork are
Graphics create a to the audio sometimes unrelated to
unique and and reinforce enhance the the podcast.
effective content and quality and Artwork is
presentation demonstrate understandin inappropriat
and enhance functionality. g of the e to podcast.
what is being presentation.
said in the
podcast and
follow the
rules for
quality
graphic
design.
Music Music Music Music is
enhances the provides provides distracting
mood, quality, supportive somewhat to
and background to distracting presentation
understandin the podcast. background to .
g of the the podcast.
presentation.
All graphic Graphic and Use of Copyright
and music music copyrighted infringement
enhancements enhancements works is is obvious.
are owned by are owned by questionable.
the creator of the creator of
the podcast or the podcast or
copyright copyright
cleared with cleared.
appropriate
documentatio
n.

5. Technical 6 points 4 points 2 points 0 points ___/6
Production
Transitions Transitions Transitions Transitions
are smooth are smooth are uneven are abrupt
and spaced with a with and
correctly minimal inconsistent background
without noisy, amount of spacing; noise needs
dead space. ambient ambient noise to be
noise. is present. filtered.
Volume of Volume is Volume is Volume
voice, music, acceptable. occasionally changes are
and effects inconsistent. highly
enhance the distracting.
presentation.
Podcast Podcast Podcast Podcast is
length keeps length keeps length is either too
the audience audience somewhat long or too
interested and listening. long or short to keep
engaged. somewhat the audience
short to keep engaged.
audience
engaged.
Podcast Podcast Podcast Podcast has
linked from a contained contains no subject
site that subject tags. limited tags and
included subject tags. difficult to
descriptive locate
subject tags. online.
Podcast Podcast Podcast Podcast
occurs as part occurs as part occurs occurs as a
of a regularly of a series. randomly. one-time
scheduled event.
series.

6. Group/Part 6 points 4 points 2 points 0 points ___/6
ner Work
All team Assisted Finished own Contributed
members group/partner part but did little to the
contributed . not assist project.
equally to the group/partner
finished .
product and
assist in
editing
process by
offering
critique and
sharing in
skill
development.
Performed all Performed Did not
duties of nearly all perform any
assigned team duties and duties of
role and contributed assigned
contributes knowledge, team role
knowledge, opinions, and and did not
opinions, and skills to share contribute
skills to share with the team. knowledge,
with the team. Completed opinions or
Always did the assigned skills to
the assigned work. share with
work. the team.
Relied on
others to do
the work.
TOTAL POINTS ___/4
5
This rubric was adapted from Rubric for Podcasts by Ann Bell is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License. Which
was retrieved on March 23 from
http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/profdev/rubrics/podcastrubric.html