Developing Analytical Rubrics

There is not one correct way to create a rubric. Depending upon the circumstances, one or more of the following strategies may be useful:

Review relevant rubrics of colleagues, other institutions, educational organizations, etc.

For instance:

The AAC&U has developed a series of rubrics related to a variety of liberal arts competencies.
The RAILS project is devoted to Rubrics Assessment of Information Literacy • The OpenEd Practices project provides a searchable database that includes many rubrics
Rubric banks are also available from Winona University and California State University at Bakersfield

If you have used the assignment previously and have samples of student work

Sort the samples into groups based on level of quality.
Make notes describing why you sorted the way you did.
Use these notes to determine criteria.
Review the samples again and, for each criterion, locate samples that are of different quality. Use these examples to write descriptions of the levels.

Share drafts with colleagues and students for feedback.

Approach rubric development as an ongoing process. Use your first draft. Take notes on what went well and what did not. Refine, refine, refine.