GUR Competency 1: Analyze and communicate ideas effectively in oral, written, and
visual forms
Models: AAC&U Written Communication, Indicators 1, 2 & 3; AAC&U Oral Communication, Indicator 1; also informed
by “Expectations for Student Writing at Western” (Writing Accountability Group document, May 2006).
Definitions: Written/oral/visual communication refers to the development and presentation of ideas in any of those forms.
This communication involves working in many genres and styles for varying audiences and purposes and can involve
many different technologies as well as mixing texts, data, and images. These communication abilities develop through
iterative experiences across the curriculum. Contextual knowledge refers to a demonstrated understanding of the needs of
a particular communication setting. Focused development is the use of relevant, accurate, and compelling evidence in
advancing a central idea. Organization refers to the arrangement and shaping of ideas into a coherent structure.
Conventions are all the established practices agreed to by particular audiences and include mechanics such as
documentation, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and formatting.
Framing Language: Research on oral/written/visual communication assessment shows that the best measures are locally
determined and sensitive to local contexts. This rubric focuses assessment on how specific work samples or collections of
work respond to specific contexts. Users of this rubric are urged to adapt it to their own disciplinary contexts. Evaluators
need to consider the assignments, audiences, and purposes for work being evaluated as well as any reflective work
samples that suggest how students understood the assignments.
Contextual
Knowledge
Focused
Development
Organization
Conventions
Capstone
4
(exceeds GUR
standard)
Demonstrates a
thorough
understanding of
audience, purpose, and
situation.
Uses relevant,
accurate, and
compelling evidence
to support and focus a
central message.
Arranges ideas in a
structure that
effectively and
cohesively reflects
ideas being developed.
Milestone
3
(meets GUR
standard)
Demonstrates an
adequate sense of
audience, purpose, and
situation.
Consistently uses
oral/written/visual
conventions for genre,
presentation
documentation, and
mechanics
Generally follows
oral/written/visual
conventions for genre,
presentation,
documentation, and
mechanics
Uses relevant,
accurate, and
compelling evidence
to support a central
message.
Arranges ideas in a
structure appropriate
for ideas being
developed.
Milestone
2
Benchmark
1
Demonstrates
awareness of audience,
purpose, and situation.
Demonstrates
minimal attention to
audience, purpose, or
situation.
Shows awareness of
evidence relevant to a
central message being
developed.
Demonstrates
minimal attention to
evidence and
development of a
central message.
Demonstrates
minimal attention to
creating an
organizational
pattern for ideas
being developed.
Demonstrates
minimal attention to
oral/written/ visual
conventions for
presentation, genre,
documentation, and
mechanics.
Shows attempt at
creating an
organizational pattern
appropriate for ideas
being developed.
Shows awareness of
oral/written/visual,
conventions for genre,
presentation,
documentation, and
mechanics.