Rubrics help students by showing them how they can meet expectations. Rubrics help you as a teacher, too, because you will be able to see how the students strive to meet your standards in quality. In addition, rubrics allow students flexibility to create their own presentations and papers while still adhering to the basic learning objectives. Even if every student in your class is not at the same level, rubrics serve as a measuring stick for how your entire class is performing academically.
Each rubric lays out a set of requirements for the assignment, such as the amount and quality of research you expect, evidence of proofreading, or the ability to develop a persuasive argument. When you provide rubrics to students ahead of time, they will be able to follow your requirements accordingly as they carry out the assignment. You don't have to worry about students coming to you later, complaining that your expectations weren't clear enough. If they follow the rubric correctly, they should be able to turn in a well-researched piece of work.
Students use rubrics as a way to guide them through the creation of a presentation, paper or project. As a result, they quickly learn how to critique themselves and figure out if they're meeting the rubric's objectives. You may also use rubrics for a peer review session, meaning that students critique each other's work according to the rubric. Whether they are reviewing their own or a classmate's work, your students will learn to become more effective critics.
Without a rubric, you might spend hours reading a student's essay, trying to figure out how you should turn your comments and concerns into an overall grade. By designing a rubric ahead of time, you will know exactly what to look out for as you're perusing an essay or listening to a presentation.