Minimal Rubrics (Checklists) vs Detailed Rubrics (Quantitative and Qualitative)

Without a rubric, students may be unclear about what you’re looking for, and you may be asked to justify grades. Without a rubric, grading can feel more subjective or arbitrary.

With a detailed rubric, students are empowered to meet expectations, and grading becomes more consistent, transparent, and defensible. Moreover, a rubric educates students by clearly outlining what needs to be included in their assignments, helping them understand the essential components and standards required for success.

Example in Action:

Scenario 1: A student submits a paper and doesn’t receive a great grade. Without a rubric, the student may feel confused and frustrated, asking, "Why did I lose points?"

Scenario 2: A student submits the same paper, but you’ve used a detailed rubric. You provide feedback like, "Your argument is strong, but you need more research to back up your claims. You can improve your writing by revisiting your thesis and making sure each paragraph directly supports it." The student now knows exactly how to improve and understands where their paper fell short.

Scenario 3: A student begins working on an assignment with the rubric in hand. Because the rubric clearly outlines the required components—such as thesis clarity, use of evidence, and writing quality—the student knows exactly what to include and how to organize their work. This guidance helps the student focus their efforts effectively, resulting in a more thorough and higher-quality submission that meets the instructor’s expectations.

Minimal Rubric (Checklist) Example

This is a basic rubric that doesn’t provide much detail about what successful work looks like.

Criterion	Points
Argument	50
Research	30
Writing Quality	20
Total	100

Benfits of a Minimal Rubric (Checklist):

The rubric lacks specific descriptions of what constitutes a successful argument, good research, or high-quality writing to allow students to make critical decisions on how to approach the work as they would in their career.
It doesn’t describe what the different performance levels (e.g., excellent, good, poor) look like for each criterion.
Students don’t have clear guidance on what they need to do to score well in each area, this is done intentionally to allow the student to demonstrate their critical thinking skills.

Detailed Rubric Example

Now, let’s transform this minimal rubric into a detailed rubric that gives clear guidance for each criterion.

Criterion	Excellent (A)	Good (B)	Needs Improvement (C)	Points
Argument	The argument is original, clearly articulated, and supported by strong, relevant evidence.	The argument is clear but lacks depth or some supporting evidence.	The argument is weak or unclear, with minimal supporting evidence.	50
Research	The paper uses at least five credible academic sources, cited correctly.	The paper uses at least three sources, but one or two are not credible, or citations are incorrect.	The paper uses fewer than three sources, or the sources are not relevant or credible.	30
Writing Quality	Writing is clear, organized, and free from grammar or spelling errors.	Writing is mostly clear but contains occasional grammar or spelling errors that do not hinder understanding.	Writing is unclear, with frequent grammar and spelling errors that impact readability.	20
Total				100

Why It’s Detailed:

Defines what strong arguments, quality research, and good writing look like — so students know exactly what’s expected.
Describes performance levels (e.g., excellent, good, poor) for each criterion — to clarify how work will be evaluated.
Gives clear guidance so students know how to succeed — reducing confusion and helping them aim for specific goals.
Helps build foundational skills and reduce uncertainty — especially important for students still developing academic confidence.