1. Familiarizing yourself with the criteria: Read through the rubric carefully and understand what each criterion means and how it is assessed. Pay attention to the descriptors for each level of performance (e.g., "Excellent," "Good," "Needs Improvement").
2. Identifying the weighting: Some rubrics may assign different weights to different criteria. For example, "Content" might be worth 50% of the grade, while "Organization" is worth 25%. Knowing the weighting will help you understand the relative importance of each criterion.
3. Clarifying expectations: If there are any unclear elements in the rubric, ask for clarification from the person who created it. This will ensure that you are evaluating the writing based on the same understanding.
Only after fully understanding the rubric can you effectively apply it to evaluate the writing.