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For Writing Intensive Instructors

Rubrics

The Davis Faculty Fellows used the UWS rubric to develop discipline-specific grading rubrics.  Though all Davis Fellows agreed on five necessary elements of academic writing (thesis, evidence and analysis, structure, style, and revision), they had different ideas of the elements' relative importance; they also used different language within their rubrics.

• Professor Jim Morris (Biology) ordered his rubric by principle (e.g. thesis, evidence) rather than by grade (e.g. A, B, C). Professor Morris's rubric (PDF).
• Professor Dan Kryder and Professor David Cunningham altered the definition of an A essay and put percentages on the different elements of the essay.  Their social science rubric (doc).
• Professor Mick Watson altered language to make the rubric more appropriate to psychology.  Professor Watson's rubric (doc).
• Professor John Plotz altered language in the model rubric so that it better spoke to upper level English classes.  Professor Plotz's rubric (doc).
• Professor Brettler decided to just define the best possible paper (the A essay).  Professor Brettler's rubric (doc).