Determine the overall point value. Will this assignment be a major part of the final grade? Or is it a minor assignment? For an assignment with a high grade-point value, you can parse the point values into more specific categories. Assignments with only a few points will have smaller, less specific breakdown of point values.
Determine what characteristics the assignment needs to cover. Issues, such as punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and length, are probably a given in terms of grade point value, but take into consideration the content. For example, if you are grading an essay, is the essay a persuasive essay? If so, how many points will you deduct for an essay with a weak persuasive stance? What about an essay with a strong persuasive stand that does not support the main points with outside research? Think about what elements you require for the assignment itself and prepare a list of these elements, from most important to least important, and break down the entire point value of the assignment by parts.
Here are some major categories to start with: Grammar and Mechanics, Spelling and Capitalization, Style, Structure, Paragraph Strength, Thesis Statement, Introduction and Conclusion, Proper Reference Formatting, Organization, Use of Outside Sources.
Create a rubric based on the characteristics above. A rubric is a breakdown of the individual elements of an assignment, often with categories placed within boxes or other visual representations. A rubric clearly and directly tells students what they need to do to get the best grade and clearly indicates to an instructor how to assess the points on any individual assignment (See Reference 1). The Rubric should clearly lay out the assignment expectations and the specific point breakdown in a way that is easy to read and allows you to fill in the point values and determine the final score. The Web site RubiStar.com allows educators to create custom rubrics using their assignment information. This Web site is free to use, but it requires registration (See Reference 3).
Post your rubric or general grade point value and specific grade breakdown to the classroom or give out a paper copy. This can help your students to know how you are going to grade and exactly what elements they need to work on for the best score (See Reference 2).