Physical science laboratory marking rubric

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Introduction	1 Overly short resulting in an incomplete explanation of the laboratory, for example, a single sentence introduction	2 Confusing, the description of what is being measured is tangential to the intent of the laboratory, purpose unclear.	3 Moderately incomplete but still essentially correct. Core critical elements are still present.	4 Missing an element of explanation but is otherwise sufficient and complete.	5 States a clear purpose for the laboratory, well explains the system being explored or, when appropriate, the hypothesis being tested and the names of the team who led the investigation.

Criteria	Not competent	Moderate competency	Proficient
Materials	1 Many materials are described inaccurately OR are not described at all.	2 Most of the materials needed for the experiment are stated.	3 All materials needed for the experiment are clearly specified.

Criteria	Not competent	Moderate competency	Proficient
Procedure	1 Procedure is incomplete or confusing.	2 Procedure is clear but not in action verb-direct object order. Prose or other format used.	3 Procedures are listed in clear steps. Each step is numbered. Action verb-direct object format.

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Data	1 Only one data point recorded correctly	2 Only two data recorded correctly	3 Only three data recorded correctly	4 Only four data recorded correctly	5 At least five data recorded correctly

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Table format	1 Missing four table elements or format errors	2 Missing three table elements or three format errors	3 Missing two table elements or two format errors	4 Missing a single table element or a single format error	5 units in header row borders alignment of headers and data margins, table on page, repeat of headers on new page to control orphans

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Graph format	1 Missing four elements	2 Missing three elements	3 Missing two elements	4 Missing a single element	5 Correct graph type for that lab, axis label, axis units trend line (if applicable), equation of trend line (if applicable)

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Analysis	1 Missing four elements	2 Missing three elements	3 Missing a two elements	4 Missing a single element	5 Complete and correctly done analysis including the variable name, the units for all variables. Where appropriate, the slope, intercept, units, and meaning of the slope

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Discussion	1 Bears little relation to the task set, unclear, very confusing, not well reasoned, extremely tangential, or extraordinarily weak. Almost incomprehensible, or a single (one to two) sentence conclusion	2 Conclusion of little relevance to the laboratory, major gaps, or overly short such as to be incomplete, Confusing, or highly incomplete, or illogical, or made confusing by serious grammar problems, or merely restated the procedure, or a variant of a non-specific and vague "I learned a lot in this laboratory"	3 For the most part answers the task set, though there may be gaps or redundant information, or the conclusion is essentially tangential to the experiments, or based on misconceptions, or incorrect conclusion, muddled	4 Moderately well reasoned. Relevant and adequate answer to the task set with only a single gap or missing task item.	5 Thoughtfully put together, well-reasoned, logical, sensible. Fully complete and thorough summary of the findings of the laboratory. Correct usage of vocabulary, appropriate use of scientific concepts. Discusses potential sources of error and how these were controlled. Includes background research on the laboratory subject. Cites appropriate text book information related to laboratory.

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Doc format	1 Four elements of format out of compliance	2 Three elements of format out of compliance	3 Two elements of format out of compliance	4 One element of format out of compliance	5 margins, double spaced prose, no widows nor orphans, twelve point legible font, done in a word processing progam

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Grammar	1 Very frequent errors of grammar or word order; reader often has to rely on own interpretation.	2 Frequent errors of grammar or word order; efforts of interpretation sometimes required on reader's part.	3 Fairly frequent errors of grammar or word order; occasional re-reading necessary for full comprehension.	4 Some errors of grammar or word order but communication not impaired.	5 No errors of grammar or word order. Correct use of tense.

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Vocabulary	1 Vocabulary so limited and so frequently misused that reader must often rely on own interpretation.	2 Limited vocabulary and frequent errors clearly hinder expression of ideas.	3 Uses wrong or inappropriate words fairly frequently; expression of ideas may be limited because of inadequate vocabulary, or many misspelled words.	4 Occasionally uses inappropriate terms or relies on circumlocution; expression of ideas not impaired; or a few misspelled words.	5 Appropriate terms used consistently, clear command of vocabulary with a focus on correct usage of physical science vocabulary, no misspelled words.

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Organization	1 Individual ideas may be clear, but very difficult to deduce connection between them.	2 Multiple sections omitted. Little or no attempt at connectivity, though reader can deduce some organization.	3 Multiple sections out of sequence, some lack of organization; re-reading required for clarification of ideas. For example, tables and graphs printed from a spreadsheet and then stapled to the back of a lab write-up printed from a word processing program.	4 One section out of sequence or omitted. Material well organized; structure could occasionally be clearer but communication not impaired.	5 All sections present in the proper order. Material exceptionally well organized. Conclusion well structured with introductory and concluding phrases.

Criteria	Not competent	Some competency	Moderate competency	Near proficient	Proficient
Cohesion	1 Communication often impaired by completely inappropriate or misused cohesive structures or vocabulary items making it difficult to make scientific sense of the conclusion.	2 Cohesive structures or vocabulary items sometimes not only inappropriate but also misused; little sense of ease of communication. Connector words and phrases confuse and mislead the reader, but sense can be made of the conclusion.	3 Patchy, with some cohesive structures or vocabulary items noticeably inappropriate to general style. Ideas tend to be disconnected from each other. Reads more like an outline than a coherent essay, or written as a list of answers to questions without connector words and phrases generating a choppy, disjoint style	4 Occasional lack of consistency in choice of cohesive structures and vocabulary but overall ease of communication not impaired.	5 Consistent choices in cohesive structures. Ideas flow logically. Conclusion remains on topic. Connector words assist the reader.