Outstanding Clinical Intern Application
Scoring Rubric for Personal Statement
Performance Dimensions/Elements
Organization
Content
Unacceptable
1
-Attempts organization.
-May lack opening or
closing sentences.
-No transitions between
ideas.
Beginning
2
-Organization is minimal.
-May lack opening or
closing sentences.
-Few, if any, transitions
between ideas.
Developing
3
-Reasonably clear ideas
but not concise.
-Some parts seem
repetitive or out of place.
-Transitions evident.
-Ideas are extremely
limited or difficult to
understand.
-May drift or shift focus.
-Content may be
irrelevant.
-No connection to
content
area/certification.
-No use of professional
language.
-Text may be repetitious
or disconnected.
-Little sense of which
information is important.
-Few, if any mention of
content area/certification.
-Ideas loosely connected.
-Labeled with some
professional terms.
-Limited connection made
to content/area
certification.
-Vocabulary may be used
incorrectly or is vague or
trite.
-Limited word use.
-Incomplete sentences.
-Many errors of spelling,
punctuation, and
grammar.
-Explanation contains
NO descriptive
language.
-No connection to
certification content
and/or pedagogy.
Word Choice/Vocabulary
Language/Usage
ReflectiveThinking
Capable
4
-Organization is good and
contributes to the
effectiveness.
-Single focus; sense of
unity and coherence.
-Logical progress of
ideas.
-Ideas are fine-tuned and
contributed to the overall
effectiveness.
-Explanation with
principal or theory given
as a rationale.
-Interconnection with
content/area certification.
Accomplished
5
-Organization is clear,
focused on the main
issues.
-Thoughtful transitions
clearly show idea
connections.
-Inconsistent professional
vocabulary used—some
well, some not.
-Vocabulary used is
general; verb choice
limited.
-Vocabulary demonstrates
professional awareness.
-Uses words to express
meaning with style and
tone.
-Vocabulary demonstrates
insightful and professional
language.
-Correct and precise use
of terminology.
-Some errors of grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.
-Generally uses correct
spelling, grammar, and
punctuation.
-Consistently uses correct
spelling, capitalization,
and punctuation.
-Error free.
-Explanation written is
simple, lay person
description.
-Few, if any, connections
made to certification
content and/or pedagogy.
-Explanation: Tradition
or personal preference
given as the rationale.
-Limited connection made
with certification content
and/or pedagogy.
-Explanation with
principle or theory and
contextual consideration.
-Selected connections
made with certification
content
and/or pedagogy.
-Explanation with
consideration of ethical,
moral, and political issues.
-Explicit connections
made to certification
content and pedagogy.
-Key concepts identified
and addressed.
-Relevant focus sustained
throughout.
-Connections made to
other related topics.
July 11, 2012
Document1
Rev. 08/05/15