Guide to Written Communication
Intended Learning Outcome:
Demonstrate effective written communication for an intended audience that follows genre/disciplinary conventions that reflect clarity, organization, and editing skills.
Assessment may include but is not limited to the following criteria and intended outcomes:
Audience and Context
Content, Conventions, and Support
Mechanics and Delivery
Elements, excerpts, and ideas borrowed with permission form Assessing Outcomes and Improving Achievement: Tips and tools for Using Rubrics, edited by Terrel L. Rhodes. Copyright 2010 by the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Written Communication Rubric
Demonstrate effective written communication for an intended audience that follows genre/disciplinary conventions that reflect clarity, organization, and editing skills.
| Criteria | Inadequate | Developing | Competent | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demonstrates awareness of intended audience and creates a clear central message |
Not aware of intended audience or context resulting in no central message |
Inadequate understanding of audience or context and presents an underdeveloped central message |
Understands intended audience, purpose, and context to create a central message |
Understands audience, purpose, and context and conveys a clear, engaging central message |
| Develops content based on genre or disciplinary conventions using evidence to support the purpose of writing |
Not aware of genre or disciplinary writing conventions and lacks evidence or support |
Inconsistently uses genre or disciplinary writing conventions without adequate evidence or support |
Uses evidence and support throughout in accordance with the conventions of appropriate genre or disciplinary writing conventions |
Uses consistent and detailed evidence and support throughout in accordance with the conventions of appropriate genre or disciplinary writing conventions |
| Produces writing that is appropriate to the writing situation and free of errors that impede understanding |
Writing impedes understanding because of errors and inappropriateness to the writing situation |
Uses language, style, and mechanics appropriately to the writing situation, but writing contains errors that impede understanding |
Uses language, style, and mechanics appropriately to the writing situation with few errors, conveying understanding clearly and concisely |
Uses sophisticated language, style, and mechanics appropriate to the writing situation and is virtually error free, conveying understanding clearly and concisely |