A criteria × levels rubric grid: a fully worked essay example on the standard 4-level scale, plus a blank grid ready for your own criteria.
This is the full content of the file — what you see here is exactly what you download.
| Analytic rubric — worked example (essay / written work) | ||||
| One row per criterion, one column per performance level, a descriptor in every cell. Score each criterion separately; the row-by-row profile is the feedback. | ||||
| Source: Brookhart 2013, How to Create and Use Rubrics (ASCD) | ||||
| Criterion | Exemplary (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
| Thesis & focus | Clear, arguable thesis sustained throughout; every paragraph advances it. | Clear thesis; most paragraphs stay focused on it. | Thesis present but vague or drifting; some paragraphs stray. | No identifiable thesis; writing lacks a controlling idea. |
| Evidence & support | Specific, well-chosen evidence, accurately cited and analyzed, not just quoted. | Relevant evidence supports most claims; analysis mostly present. | Evidence is thin, generic, or dropped in without analysis. | Claims are unsupported or evidence is inaccurate. |
| Organization | Logical structure with purposeful transitions; introduction and conclusion do real work. | Clear structure; transitions mostly smooth. | Some organizational logic, but jumps or repetition interrupt the flow. | No discernible structure; ideas appear in arbitrary order. |
| Language & conventions | Precise, varied language; virtually free of grammar and mechanics errors. | Clear language; a few minor errors that don't impede reading. | Errors are frequent enough to distract from the content. | Errors seriously impede understanding. |
| Analytic rubric — blank grid | ||||
| Name 3–6 criteria, then describe observable performance at each level. Write the top and bottom levels first; the middle levels are the gradations between them. | ||||
| Source: Brookhart 2013, How to Create and Use Rubrics (ASCD) | ||||
| Criterion | Exemplary (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
The preview above is the whole template — the download is the same content as a ready-to-edit XLSX file. We ask for a work email, nothing else.
Browsing and previews are free with no signup. A download stores your email and which template you took — never anything else (see the privacy policy).
This template has an interactive sibling — Rubric Maker runs the same content as a live tool, free in your browser.
Open Rubric Maker →This template is derived from:
Rubric-scored work still produces data: StudyDrome records per-criterion scores, so you can see which criterion holds your cohort back.
See StudyDrome