INVERTEBRATE PORTFOLIO RUBRIC 
TOPIC
GENERAL
INFORMATION
ADVANCED
 Habitat correctly
described
 Symmetry correct
 Body cavity identified
correctly
 Thorough & accurate
list of specialized
external structures
PROFICIENT
 Most habitat,
symmetry &/or body
cavity described
correctly
 Sufficient & correct
list of specialized
external structures
PARTIALLY PROFICIENT
UNSATISFACTORY
 Some habitat, symmetry Few if any habitat,
&/or body cavity
symmetry &/or body
described correctly
cavity described
 Partial list (some
correctly
inaccuracies) of
Insufficient list of
specialized external
specialized external
structures
structures
DIAGRAMS
CONTENT
 Title complete &
accurate
 Labels are present &
correct
 Title complete with
some inaccuracies
 Most labels are
present & correct
 Title incomplete and
inaccuracies exist
 Some labels are present
& correct
 Title incomplete &
inaccurate
 Few if any labels are
present & correct
DIAGRAMS
QUALITY
 Layout criteria
followed exactly
 Diagram is thoroughly
& neatly colored in
pencil
 Most layout criteria
are followed
 Diagram is
sufficiently colored
in pencil
 Some layout criteria are
followed
 Diagram is insufficiently
colored or not in pencil
and neatness is lacking
 Few if any layout
criteria are followed
 Diagram is not
colored
GRAPHIC
ORGANIZER
 Guidelines are
thoroughly &
accurately addressed
 Demonstrates
complete
understanding of all
essential functions
 Most guidelines are
accurately
addressed
 Demonstrates a
sufficient
understanding of all
essential functions
 Some guidelines are
addressed
 Some important details &
facts omitted
 Has a general sense of
essential functions with a
few inaccuracies
 Few if any guidelines
are addressed
 Many important
details & facts
omitted
 Lacks a thorough
understanding of
essential functions
TOPIC
COMPARATIVE
ESSAY 1 & 2:
CONTENT
DEVELOPMENT
COMPARATIVE
ESSAY 1 & 2:
ORGANIZATION
COMPARATIVE
ESSAY 1 & 2:
MECHANICS
OVERALL
PORTFOLIO
QUALITY
ADVANCED
 Science content
thoroughly developed
 Demonstrates an
extensive
understanding of key
invertebrate concepts
 Draws complex
connections between
phyla
PROFICIENT
PARTIALLY PROFICIENT
 Content specific &
 Content thin &/or too
relevant
general
 Demonstrates a
 Demonstrates a limited
general
understanding of key
understanding of key
invertebrate concepts
invertebrate
 Draws few connections
concepts
between phyla
 Draws some
connections between
phyla
UNSATISFACTORY
 Content thin or
missing
 Demonstrates a little
if any understanding
of key invertebrate
concepts
 Draws no connections
between phyla
 Logical sequences of
paragraphs
 Clearly connected
introduction &
conclusion
 Order not completely
logical
 Some connection
between
introduction &
conclusion
 Some incomplete
sentences
 Some spelling or
grammar errors
Lack of order affects
flow
Vague introduction &
conclusion; lacks
connection
 Random organization
 Missing introduction
&/or conclusion
Many incomplete
sentences
Many spelling &/or
grammar errors
 Information is
sufficiently neat &
organized
 Meets expectations
for effort
 Information lacks some
neatness & organization
 Some effort evident
Correct sentence
structure lacking
throughout
Excessive spelling
&/or grammar errors
 Information lacks
neatness &
organization
 Little if any effort
evident
 Complete & concise
sentences
 No spelling or
grammar errors
 Information is neatly
presented & well
organized
 Visually pleasing
 Exceeds expectations
for effort