Define the elements you wish to evaluate. For example, many science project rubrics include a hypothesis, selection of materials, experimental steps and data analysis sections. You may include the writing of the final report in the rubric or grade it separately.
Decide if you want to use a holistic rubric, in which all of the required elements are included in a single category, or an analytical rubric in which each element is evaluated separately. Analytical rubrics require an additional step at the end to determine a grade but they communicate strengths and weaknesses more specifically to students.
Set up a chart for your rubric. The number of columns and rows you use will depend on the elements that you include and on whether you use a holistic or analytical approach.
Write each of the required elements in the first column. List the items separately so that students can clearly see what element is being evaluated. For example, you might write "hypothesis" in the first square in column one, after the header, followed by "use of materials" on the next row, etc.
Define the values that you will be using. For example, many teachers award four points for an excellent element, three points for one that is almost there, two points for one that is adequate, one point for barely passing and zero where the student did not try.
Set up a column for each value. If you are using four values, you will have five columns: one for the required element and one for each possible rating.
Include details of how you will assess each item under each value. For example, "hypothesis" might read, "clearly stated, logically defined, appropriate to the problem" in the "four" column and "unclear hypothesis, unrelated to the problem" in the "one" column. "Two" and "three" values would have some of the elements. In this case, one of the three elements in a strong paper might result in a "two" and two strong elements might equal a grade of "three." Be sure to circle the strong elements so that the student knows how you arrived at your decision.
Add the values earned from each item scored. If they are equally weighted, you can convert them to a percent to arrive at a grade equivalent. If some of the elements are more important than others in your evaluation, double or triple them before adding all of the values so that they will be more strongly represented in the final grade determination.
Write the grading criteria in column one. For example, a "four" paper might exceed expectations in four out of five required elements, a "three" paper might meet requirements, a "two" might meet 75 percent of the requirements, a "one" 50 percent and a "zero" less than 50 percent.
Describe each category in column two. Include each element and the expectations for each, along with a descriptive list. For example, a "four" report might read "strong hypothesis, creative use of materials, experimental design exceeds expectations, strong data analysis, creative approach to required topic, very well written report."
Include strengths and weaknesses in column two for projects earning less than a "four." Consider leaving these boxes blank in the students' pre-paper copy and filling them in for each report. This will show the students what missing or weak elements reduced their grades. For example, a "two" paper might state: "strong hypothesis, errors in the interpretation of data, fails to meet all of the required topic elements. Additional elements including: research design, use of materials and written report, were adequate."