XHS Constructing Explanations Rubric
Adapted from Jeremy Peacock, Northeast Georgia RESA http://bit.ly/NEGAScienceMiddle
Beginning (1)
Progressing (2)
Proficient (3)
Advanced (4)
Makes a claim that
is…
Relevant Claim
directly and
A statement or
clearly
conclusion
Does not make
responds to
Makes a
that answers
a claim, or
the question
relevant and
the original
makes an
Accurate accurate but
question or
inaccurate or
consistent with
incomplete
problem.
irrelevant
evidence and
claim.
*Describes the
claim.
scientific
relationship (if
principles
applicable)
Complete complete
sentence that
stands alone
Provides evidence
to support the
claim that is…
Appropriate scientific data
Evidence
Does not
Provides
or information
Scientific data
provide
appropriate, but
from
that supports
evidence, or
insufficient
observations,
the claim. The
only provides
evidence to
investigations,
data need to
inappropriate
support claim.
data analysis,
be appropriate
evidence
May include
or valid
and sufficient
(Evidence that
some
scientific
to support the
does not
inappropriate
sources
claim.
support claim).
evidence.
Sufficient enough
evidence to
support the
claim

Reasoning
A justification
that connects
Does not
provide
reasoning, or
Provides
reasoning that
connects the
Explanation
provides reasoning
that is…
Clear
only provides
inappropriate
reasoning.
evidence to
claim. May
include some
scientific
principles or
justification for
why the
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the evidence
to the claim. It
shows why the
data counts as
evidence by
using
appropriate
- clearly
communicated
and goes
beyond
repeating
claim and
evidence
and sufficient
scientific
principles.
evidence
supports the
claim, but not
sufficient.
Connected
explains why
the evidence
is important or
why it is
relevant
Integrated links the
evidence to an
important
disciplinary
idea and
crosscutting
concept