Grading Rubric for Final Project
Criteria Achieved Excellence
Work goes beyond the assignment
to explore the implications of
arguments or evidence in new
contexts or in particularly
thoughtful, insightful, and/or
original ways; Topic is tightly
focused and relevant; Style and
Content content fully elucidate the purpose
Importance of topic, and keep the purpose at the center
relevance, accuracy of the piece; Student demonstrates
of facts, overall full knowledge (more than required)
treatment of topic by answering all questions with
explanations and elaboration;
Presentation contains accurate
information with no fact errors;
Sufficient, relevant information or
data; Summarizes main points
logically to lead to a conclusion and
ends with a clear closing statement
20 pts
Organization of assignment as a
whole is logical and quickly
apparent; Ideas are presented in
Organization/Clarity logical, interesting sequence which
Appropriate the audience can follow;
Effective/Smooth transitions
introduction, body,
between major ideas; Connections
and conclusions; between key facts are clearly
logical ordering of articulated; Presentation is clear and
ideas; transitions concise; Keeps and guides audience
between major attention
points
20 pts
Exceeded Expectations Developing or Meets Expectations
Work fully meets the parameters
of the assignment but does not
exceed them. (and/or…) Topic is
adequately focused and relevant;
Student is at ease with expected
answers to each of the questions,
but fails to elaborate; Major facts
are accurate and generally
complete; Mostly relevant and
current information or data;
Presentation is mostly clear,
logical, and understandable with
a few vague areas; Summarizes
main points but lacks a closing
statement. Does not quite meet
all assignment requirements.
10 pts
Organization of assignment, as a
whole is logical and apparent, but
transitions between key points
are not consistently smooth;
Most ideas are in logical
sequence which the audience can
follow with adequate transitions
between most major ideas;
presentation is generally clear
and understandable; Audience
finds the presentation mostly
interesting
10 pts
Needs Improvement
Work does not address some aspects
of the assignment. (and/or…) Topic
would benefit from more focus;
Student is uncomfortable with
information and is able to answer only
rudimentary questions; Presentation
contains some fact errors or
omissions; Some useful information or
data; The purpose of the assignment is
not fully achieved; Ideas are sketchy
with no clear relationships and
transitions; Parts of assignment do not
make sense; Inadequate summary.
Does not meet assignment
requirements.
5 pts
Organization of the assignment as a
whole can only be discerned with
effort; Not all parts of the assignment
fit the organizational structure; Some
ideas are not presented in proper
order; Audience has difficulty
following information because subject
jumps around; Transitions are needed
between some ideas; Some parts of
the presentation may be wordy or
unclear; Does not hold audience
attention for very long
5 pts
Work does not address the
assignment. (and/or…)
Topic lacks relevance or
focus; Student does not
have a grasp of
information; Cannot
answer questions about
the subject; Presentation
contains multiple fact
errors; The purpose and
focus of the assignment are
not clear; Ideas presented
are not relevant to the
topic; Makes very little
sense; No clear closing
1 point
Organization of the
assignment as a whole is
not logical or discernable;
Ideas are not presented in
proper order; Audience
cannot understand because
there is no sequence of
information; Transitions
are lacking between major
ideas; Several parts of
presentation are wordy or
unclear; No effort to make
the information relevant or
interesting for the
audience.
1 point
 Presentation provides good depth
and detail; Evidence used to support
Completeness the assignment is rich, detailed and
Evidence, Data, well chosen; Evidence sections
Level of detail, employ appropriate illustrations
appropriate length, and/or quotations; The connections
adequate between ideas are well developed
background of and clearly and compellingly
information articulated in all cases; Facts have
adequate background; Presentation
within specified length
10 pts
Presentation is essentially free of
misspellings and grammatical errors.
Grammar and Throughout the assignment,
Mechanics wording is precise; In written work,
Correct grammar sentence structure is consistently
and usage that is clear and quotations are all framed
appropriate for effectively in the text (integrated
audience(s) properly in both grammar and
meaning) and explained where
necessary.
5 pts
Student uses a clear voice and
correct, precise pronunciation of
terms so that all audience members
can hear presentation; Has
Delivery appropriate volume and energy;
Adequate volume, Proper pace and diction; Uses
appropriate pace, pauses for dramatic effect or to let
diction, personal ideas sink in; Avoidance of
appearance, distracting gestures; Professional
enthusiasm/energy, appearance
posture
5 pts
Presentation provides adequate
depth; Evidence used to support
the assignment is well chosen,
though not particularly rich or
detailed; The connections
between ideas and evidence is
clearly articulated; few needed
details are omitted; major ideas
adequately developed;
assignment is within specified
length
7 pts
Assignment is for the most part
precisely worded; In written
work, sentence structure is
mostly clear; There are a few
minor spelling or grammatical
errors; Sentences are mostly
jargon-free, complete and
understandable
3 pts
Student speaks clearly; not too
quickly or slowly; Speaks loudly
enough for everyone to hear;
Adequate volume and energy;
Changes tone to maintain
interest; Rarely uses filler words;
Pronounces words correctly;
Adapts speech for the content
and task, demonstrating
command of formal English when
appropriate; Few or no
distracting gestures; Professional
appearance
3 pts
Connection between assignment and
evidence is not clearly articulated in all
cases; Additional depth needed in
places; Important information omitted
or not fully developed; Presentation is
too short or too long
5 pts
Wording is imprecise; In written work,
sentence structure is often confusing;
There are a number of spelling and
grammatical errors; Sentence may
contain jargon or are too long or hard
to follow
2 pts
Student speaks clearly some of the
time; Sometimes too quickly or too
slowly; Audience members have
difficulty hearing presentation;
Student may speak in a monotone;
Occasionally uses filler words;
Pronounces a few words incorrectly;
More volume/energy needed at times;
Some distracting gestures or posture;
Adequate appearance
2 pts
Assignment does not
provide adequate depth;
Evidence used does not
clearly support the
assignment; key details are
omitted or undeveloped;
Presentation is too short or
too long
1 point
Throughout the
assignment, wording is
imprecise; In written work,
sentence structure is
consistently confusing;
Assignment is unacceptably
sloppy; sentences are long,
incomplete, or contain
excessive jargon
0 points
Student mumbles or goes
too quickly or slowly;
Speaks too softly to be
heard in the back of the
room; Low volume/energy;
Frequently uses "filler"
words ("uh, um, so and
like"); Pronounces several
words incorrectly; Does not
adapt speech for the
context and task (may not
use formal English when
appropriate); Distracting
gestures or posture;
Unprofessional appearance
1 point
 Uses aids that are especially creative Uses aids, including digital media Uses aids, but they may sometimes Does not use aids (pictures,
Presentation Aids
or powerful; Shows exceptional skill when appropriate to enhance distract from the presentation; Some drawings, objects, posters,
Proper support and in strategically choosing and understanding of findings, text, graphics, visuals or sound may maps, recordings, slides,
sourcing for major creating aids or using technology; reasoning, and evidence and add not be clear; Sometimes does not video, other digital media,
ideas, inclusion of Smoothly handles problems with interest; Aids are easy to see or have aids ready to use or does not etc.); Attempts to use one
visual aids that aids and technological glitches, if hear; Well-produced; Has aids smoothly bring them into the or a few aids but they do
support message; they occur ready to use and includes them presentation not add to or may distract
Effective use of smoothly into the presentation from the presentation
visual aids

5 pts 3 pts 2 pts 1 point

Uses five sources documented on Uses three or more sources Uses one or more sources Uses one or more sources
References reference page in correct APA documented on reference documented on reference page in documented on reference
format page in correct APA format correct APA format. page not using APA format
5 pts 3 pts 2 pts 1 point

Grading Scale
Achieved Excellence Exceeded Expectations Meets Expectations Developing Needs Improvement
(A) (B) (C) (D) (F)
55+ 45+ 35+ 10+ 0+