Rubric Development

In the current climate of educational accountability and transparency, instructors strive to articulate clearly the expectations and objectives for the courses they teach. When instructors decide to include writing instruction in their course and project design, the Writing Center can help in establishing appropriate and challenging expectations clearly stated as objectives and in the flexible practical form of rubrics. These rubrics help students understand better what they should be accomplishing and instructors assess better the progress they are making.

We have worked extensively with the C. T. Bauer College of Business, UH Law Center, Graduate College of Social Work, and the Art History department to create rubrics that serve as both curricular definitions of objectives and outcomes for student writing and practical tools for grading and assessment.

Reducing the Workload of Grading

Following a few basic guidelines, and utilizing rubrics (see examples below) or other evaluation tools, instructors can significantly reduce time spent grading without sacrificing effective writing instruction for students. The Writing Center’s pedagogy professionals can help instructors tailor grading to instructional needs by focusing on the student outcomes that matter most.

Examples from UH Writing Center Partnerships:

• Law Center
• Art History
• Business Writing Evaluation

Additional Rubric Templates:

• Washington State University Critical Thinking Rubric
• Basic Portfolio Assessment Rubric
• UH Undergraduate Writing Assessment 2 Rubric
• UH Undergraduate Critical Thinking Assessment Rubric