Add a Rubric to a Discussion in Canvas

Canvas Rubrics are a great way to communicate expectations of quality to your students. When added to a graded discussion in Canvas, a rubric can:

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

To review the step-by-step process of adding a rubric to a discussion, click the tabs below. 

Step One: Access the Rubric Editor

To open the rubric editor:

1. In the course navigation menu, click Discussions.
2. Click the name of the graded discussion to which you want to add a rubric. 

3. Click the three-dot icon at the top-right corner of the page, then select Add Rubric on its drop-down menu. The Assignment Rubric Details window will open.

4. Add a title for the rubric in the Title field.
5. Make sure the Use this rubric for assignment grading checkbox is selected.

Step Two: Add Criteria

When you create a new rubric, it includes one criterion by default. To edit this criterion's description:

1. Click the pencil icon in the Criteria column. The Edit Criterion window will open.

2. Enter a short description for the criterion in the Description text field.
3. Add a more detailed description in the Long Description text field (if needed).
4. Click Update Criterion. The Edit Criterion window will close.

5. If you need to add more criteria to your rubric, click + Criterion. A menu will open that allows you to make a copy of an existing criterion or add a completely new criterion. 

6. Complete steps 2-4 for each new criterion you add to customize its description.

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 that order.

Step Three: Set Ratings

By default, rubric ratings are created as individual point values; if you'd instead like to set point value ranges on your rubric, see the tip below.

To edit the point value for each rating:

1. Click the pencil icon next to a rating level in the Ratings column. The Edit Rating window will open.

2. Add your desired point value in the Rating Score text field.
3. Change the default label for the rating (e.g., "Full Marks") in the Rating Title field (if needed).
4. Add a description for the rating in the Rating Description text field (if needed).
5. Click Update Rating. The Edit Rating window will close.

6. If you need to add more rating levels, click the + (plus) icon between existing ratings. Then, complete steps 2-5 to modify the new rating level.
7. Click Create Rubric when you've finished modifying your new rubric's criteria and ratings.

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 will display a maximum and minimum point value.

For example, a range of 10 to >8 points for the "Full Marks" rating 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 between 10 and 8, such as 8.1 points, 8.5 points, 9 points, etc. 

Tip: Add an Existing Rubric

You can also find and add an existing rubric from any of your Canvas courses to a discussion.

Related Articles

• Add a Rubric in Your Canvas Course
• Add a Rubric to an Assignment in Canvas