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Add a Rubric to an Assignment in Canvas

Updated

Canvas Rubrics are a great way to communicate assignment expectations and assessment criteria to students.

When added to Canvas Assignments, rubrics can: 

  • Help students understand assignment expectations. 
  • Provide a guide that students can use while completing assignments.
  • Ensure transparent and consistent grading for all students.
  • Allow you to automatically use Canvas Speedgrader for grading submissions.

To review the step-by-step process for adding a new rubric to an assignment, click the tabs below. To search for an existing rubric, check out the Canvas resource for Find a Rubric. 

Step One: Open Rubric Editor

To open the rubric editor:

  1. In the course navigation menu, click Assignments. 

    Assignments highlighted in the course navigation menu.

  2. Click the name of the assignment where you would like to add the rubric. 

    The assignment's name highlighted.

  3. At the bottom of the assignment, click + Rubric. This opens up the rubric editor.

    +Rubric button highlighted.

Step Two: Add a Title

  1. In the Title field, add a title for your rubric. 

Title text field highlighted.

Step Three: Add a Criterion

The rubric includes a criterion by default. To edit the criterion description:

  1. Click the Edit (pencil) icon.

    Edit pencil icon highlighted.

  2. In the Description field, type a brief description or name for the criterion.
  3. In the Long Description field, type a more detailed description.
  4. Click Update Criterion.

    The Description and Long Description text fields highlighted along with Update Criterion.

  5. To add another criterion, click + Criterion.

    +Criterion highlighted.

Tip: Consider the Order of Your Criteria First

Criteria cannot be reordered after they are added to a rubric. If you want to display criteria in a specific order, create them in the desired order.

Step Four: Add Ratings

Rubric ratings are created as single-point values by default. To edit a rating:

    1. In each Ratings column, click the Edit (pencil) icon. 

      Edit pencil icons highlighted.

The Edit Rating window appears.

      1. In the Rating Score field, add your desired point value.
      2. In the Rating Title field, you can change the default label "Full Marks."
      3. In the Rating Description field, add a description for the rating.
      4. Click Update Rating.

        The Rating Score, Rating Title, and Rating Description text fields highlighted along with Update Rating.

      5. To add new ratings to a criterion, click + Add Rating and repeat the previous step to customize the Rating Score, Rating Title, and Rating Description. 

        +Add Rating highlighted in Ratings category.

Tip Add Point Ranges

You can also add point ranges to ratings. Ranges allow you to assign a range of points rather than a single value. Each range displays a maximum and minimum point value.

For example, a rating range of 10 to >8 points for "Full Marks" means that a student can receive a maximum of 10 points to a minimum of 8 points to receive "Full Marks" on a criterion. In this example, "Full Marks" includes all values such as 8.1 points, 8.5 points, 9 points, etc. 

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