Teach For America - Mississippi: SCIENCE Performance Task Grading Rubric
DISTINGUISHED STRONG
4 POINTS
Shows understanding of the
problem's scientific concepts
Science Knowledge
and principles; uses
appropriate scientific
terminology and notation; and
executes procedures
completely and correctly.
May use relevant outside
information of a formal or
informal nature; identifies all
Strategic Knowledge
the important elements of the
problem and shows
understanding of the
relationships between them;
reflects an appropriate and
systematic strategy for
solving the problem; and
gives clear evidence of a
solution process, and solution
process is complete and
systematic.
Gives a complete response
with a clear, unambiguous
explanation
and/or description; may
Communication
include an appropriate and
complete diagram;
communicates effectively to
the identified audience;
presents strong supporting
arguments which are logically
sound and complete; may
include examples and
counter-examples.
Based on QUASAR General Rubric
Source: Lane, Suzanne, The Conceptual Framework for the Development of a Mathematics Performance
Assessment Instrument. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, Summer 1993, 16-23.
MODERATE
3 POINTS
Shows nearly complete
understanding of the
problem's scientific concepts
and principles; uses nearly
correct scientific terminology
and notation; executes
procedures completely; and
outcomes are generally
correct but may contain minor
errors.
May use relevant outside
information of a formal or
informal nature; identifies the
most important elements of
the problem and shows
general understanding of the
relationships between them;
and gives clear evidence of a
solution process, and solution
process is complete or nearly
complete, and systematic.
Gives a fairly complete
response with reasonably
clear
explanations or descriptions;
may include a nearly
complete, appropriate
diagram; generally
communicates effectively to
the identified audience;
presents supporting
arguments which are logically
sound but may contain some
minor gaps.
PARTIAL
2 POINTS
Shows understanding of some
of the problem's scientific
concepts and principles; and
may contain some procedural
errors.
Identifies some important
elements of the problems, but
shows only limited
understanding of the
relationships between them;
and gives some evidence of a
solution process, but solution
process may be incomplete or
somewhat unsystematic.
Makes significant progress
towards completion of the
problem, but the explanation
or description may be
somewhat ambiguous or
unclear; may include a
diagram which is flawed or
unclear; communication may
be somewhat vague or
difficult to interpret; and
arguments may be incomplete
or may be based on a
logically unsound premise.
MINIMAL
1 POINT 0 POINTS
Shows very limited Shows no understanding of
understanding of the the problem's scientific
problem's scientific concepts, concepts and principles.
and principles; may misuse or
fail to use scientific terms;
and may make major
procedural errors.
May attempt to use irrelevant May attempt to use irrelevant
outside information; fails to outside information; fails to
identify important elements indicate which elements of
or places too much emphasis the problem are appropriate;
on unimportant elements; copies part of the problem,
may reflect an inappropriate but without attempting a
strategy for solving the solution.
problem; gives incomplete
evidence of a solution
process; solution process may
be missing, difficult to
identify, or completely
unsystematic.
Has some satisfactory Communicates ineffectively;
elements but may fail to words do not reflect the
complete or may omit problem; may include
significant parts of the drawings which completely
problem; explanation or misrepresent the problem or
description may be missing or situation.
difficult to follow; may
include a diagram which
incorrectly represents the
problem situation, or diagram
may be unclear and difficult
to interpret.