Colonial Newspaper Project Rubric
Biographic
Articles
News Articles
10
8
6
4
2
At least 2 biographic articles are
present in the newspaper.
2 biographic articles are present
in the newspaper.
Only one biographical article is
present in the newspaper.
Only one biographical article is
present in the newspaper.
No biographical articles are
present in the newspaper.
Biographies show accurate and
relevant information to the
subject.
Biographies show accurate and
relevant information to the
subject.
Biographies show mostly
accurate and relevant
information to the subject.
Much of the information in the
biographies is either inaccurate,
or irrelevant.
Very little information is
accurate or relevant.
Biographies are written well,
with proper introductions,
conclusions, and linking
words/phrases.
Biographies are written well,
with introductions and
conclusions.
Biographies are mostly written
well, with introductions and
conclusions.
Biographies are not written
well, and/or lack introductions
and conclusions.
Biographies are not written well,
and/or lack introductions and
conclusions.
Subjects of biographies are
important to the purpose of the
paper, and relevant to the
assignment.
Subjects of biographies are
important to the purpose of the
paper, and relevant to the
assignment.
One or more subjects of
biographies are not important
to the purpose of the paper,
and are irrelevant to the
assignment.
One or more subjects of
biographies are not important to
the purpose of the paper, and
are irrelevant to the assignment.
None of the subjects of
biographies are important to
the purpose of the paper; all
are irrelevant to the
assignment.
Article has an author.
Article has an author.
Article does not have an author.
Article does not have an author.
Article does not have an author.
At least 2 news articles are
present in the newspaper.
At least 2 news articles are
present in the newspaper.
Only one news article is present
in the newspaper.
Only one news article is present
in the newspaper.
No news articles are present in
the newspaper.
News articles show accurate and
relevant information to the
subject.
News articles show mostly
accurate and relevant
information to the subject.
News articles show mostly
accurate and relevant
information to the subject.
Much of the information in the
news articles is either
inaccurate, or irrelevant.
Very little information is
accurate or relevant.
News articles are written well,
with proper introductions,
conclusions, and linking
words/phrases.
News articles are mostly
written well, with introductions
and conclusions.
News articles are mostly written
well, with introductions and
conclusions.
News articles are not written
well, and/or lack introductions
and conclusions.
News articles are not written
well, and/or lack introductions
and conclusions.
News articles are written from
the proper perspective of the
News articles are written from
the proper perspective of the
One or more news articles are
not written from the proper
One or more news articles are
not written from the proper
None of the news articles are
written from the proper
Editorial
Articles
Illustrations
group’s newspaper biases.
group’s newspaper biases.
perspective of the group’s
newspaper biases.
perspective of the group’s
newspaper biases.
perspective of the group’s
newspaper biases.
Article has an author.
Article has an author.
Article does not have an author.
Article does not have an author.
Article does not have an author.
At least 2 editorial articles are
present in the newspaper.
At least 2 editorial articles are
present in the newspaper.
Only one editorial article is
present in the newspaper.
Only one editorial article is
present in the newspaper.
No editorial articles are present
in the newspaper.
Editorial articles properly
address issues relevant to this
subject.
Editorial articles mostly address
issues relevant to this subject.
Editorial articles mostly address
issues relevant to this subject.
Most of the issues in the
editorial articles do not address
relevant issues to the subject.
Very little information and
opinions are accurate or
relevant.
Editorial articles are written
well, with proper introductions,
conclusions, and linking
words/phrases.
Editorial articles are written
well, with introductions and
conclusions.
Editorial articles are mostly
written well, with introductions
and conclusions.
Editorial articles are not written
well, and/or lack introductions
and conclusions.
Editorial articles are not written
well, and/or lack introductions
and conclusions.
Editorial articles match the
perspective of the group’s
newspaper.
Editorial articles match the
perspective of the group’s
newspaper.
One or more editorial articles
are not written from the proper
perspective of the group’s
newspaper.
One or more editorial articles
are not written from the proper
perspective of the group’s
newspaper.
None of the editorial articles
are written from the proper
perspective of the group’s
newspaper.
Article has an author.
Article has an author.
Article does not have an author.
Article does not have an author.
Article does not have an author.
At least one illustration clearly
can be viewed as a political
cartoon.
At least one illustration clearly
can be viewed as a political
cartoon.
At least one illustration can be
viewed as a political cartoon.
At least one illustration attempts
to be viewed as a political
cartoon.
No political cartoon present.
Political cartoon is relevant to
the perspective of the
newspaper’s biases.
Political cartoon is mostly
relevant to the perspective of
the newspaper’s biases.
Political cartoon is only
somewhat relevant to the
perspective of the newspaper’s
biases.
Political cartoon has little to no
relevance to the perspective of
the newspaper’s biases.
No political cartoon shows
relevance to the perspective of
the newspaper’s biases.
There are a total of X
illustrations, with more than 2
showing historical figures, and
more than 2 showing historical
events of this time period.
There are a total of X
illustrations, with 2 showing
historical figures, and 2 showing
historical events of this time
period.
There are a total of X
illustrations, with at least 1
showing a historical figure, and
at least 1 showing a historical
event of this time period.
There are a total of X
illustrations, with at least 1
showing a historical figure, or 1
showing a historical event of this
time period.
Either there are no illustrations,
or they have almost no
connection to historical figures
and events.
Illustrations are in color, and
drawn by hand.
Illustrations are in color, and
drawn by hand.
Illustrations are in color, and
drawn by hand.
Illustrations are in color, and
drawn by hand.
Illustrations are either not in
color, or they were not actually
drawn by hand.
Illustrations exceed expectations
and are attractive, and show
care and effort.
Illustrations are somewhat
attractive but show minimal
effort.
Illustrations are not attractive
and show that no effort was
made.
Illustrations are not appropriate
for the articles and themes of
the newspaper.
Illustrations are not appropriate
for the articles and themes of
the newspaper.
Newspaper is organized, and
generally appears like a
newspaper.
Newspaper is not organized
well, but generally appears like a
newspaper should.
Newspaper is not organized
well, and does not resemble a
newspaper.
Paper is mostly appealing to
look at, and is cleanly written
and placed.
Paper is mostly appealing to
look at, and is cleanly written
and placed.
Paper is not appealing to look
at, and is often not cleanly
written and placed.
Paper is not attractive to look
at, and the writing is sloppy and
disordered.
Newspaper has illustrations and
articles correctly and attractively
connected.
Newspaper has illustrations and
articles connected, but not
always cleanly or well.
Newspaper has illustrations and
articles connected, but not
always cleanly or well.
Newspaper has illustrations and
articles connected, but not
cleanly or well.
Newspaper does not have
illustrations and articles
correctly connected.
Newspaper ‘masthead’ is
creative, attractive and
appropriate, with a date and
city.
Newspaper ‘masthead’ is
appropriate, and somewhat
creative and attractive, with a
date and city.
Newspaper ‘masthead’ is
appropriate, and is somewhat
creative and attractive. It has a
date and/or city.
Newspaper ‘masthead’ is
appropriate, but not creative or
attractive. It does not have a
date or city.
Newspaper ‘masthead’ is either
not present, or not appropriate.
It does not have a date or city.
Language used in the newspaper
is formal and appropriate for use
in a newspaper.
Language used in the
newspaper is mostly formal and
appropriate for use in a
newspaper.
Language used in the newspaper
is somewhat formal and
appropriate for use in a
newspaper.
Language used in the
newspaper is often not formal
and inappropriate for use in a
newspaper.
Language used in the newspaper
is informal and not appropriate
for use in a newspaper.
There are minimal lexical and/or
grammar mistakes, but do not
distract from meaning.
There are minimal lexical
and/or grammar mistakes, but
do not distract from meaning.
There are some lexical and
grammar mistakes.
Lexical and grammar mistakes
distract and make it difficult to
understand meaning.
There are multiple lexical and
grammar mistakes that distract
and make it difficult to
understand meaning.
Work’s cited page at least 5
sources. Work’s cited page has
zero MLA formatting errors.
Sources have been properly
cited in all articles using in-text
Work’s cited page has 5
sources, and/or may contain 12 MLA formatting errors.
Sources have been properly
cited using in-text citations.
Work’s cited page has a
minimum of 4 sources and have
been mentioned in the texts.
Work’s cited page has few
errors. In-text citations are not
Work’s cited page has a
minimum of 3 sources, and
sources have been mentioned
in the texts. Work’s cited page
has several errors. In-text
Work’s cited page has a
minimum of 2 sources, and/or
sources have not been
mentioned. Work’s cited page
has many errors.
Illustrations are attractive, and
show care and effort.
Illustrations are somewhat
attractive but show little effort.
Illustrations are mostly
appropriate for the articles and
themes of the newspaper.
Illustrations are somewhat
appropriate for the articles and
themes of the newspaper.
Newspaper is organized in a
logical manner, and appears like
an authentic newspaper.
Newspaper is organized well
and mostly in a logical manner,
and generally appears like an
authentic newspaper.
Paper is appealing to look at,
and is cleanly written and
placed.
Illustrations are entirely
appropriate for the articles and
themes of the newspaper.
Organization
Language and
Sources
citations (MLA).
cited properly.
citations are incomplete.
Group Score (Rubric above)
Out of 60
Individual Role Score (Your section x4)
Out of 40
Total Score (Group + Individual)
Out of 100