Riverside County Seal of Multiliteracy
American Sign Language (ASL) Interview Rubric
The ASL Interview Rubric is a rating scale that assessors can use to assess students’
command of American Sign Language on the basis of what they observe. The assessor
matches a student’s signing performance in seven areas – correct vocabulary, basic ASL
structure, fingerspelling clarity and number signs, body shift, facial expression,
classifiers, and fluency and eye contact – to descriptions on a four-point scale for each.
The ASL Interview Rubric is sufficiently generic to be applicable to any interview or
presentation done in ASL. It was adapted, with permission, from a rubric provided by
Ms. Joni Kirby from Chino Valley USD, to whom we extend our gratitude for her support
of the Riverside County Seal of Multiliteracy for ASL.
Directions for Using the ASL Interview Rubric:
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Students scoring at level “1” in all categories can be said to have no proficiency in
ASL.
Students scoring at level “4” in all categories can be said to be proficient in ASL.
Consider the most consistent level of ability that you have observed. When it is
difficult to choose between two levels, score down. For example, if you think the
student is between a two and a three, give the student a two for that category.
Think of only one category of ASL ability at a time.
Think of only ASL proficiency; don’t let the student’s voicing of his/her responses
influence you as you score the interview.
Based on your observation of the student, circle the description which best describes
the student’s ASL abilities.
Note: For the purposes of scoring an interview for the Riverside County Office of
Education’s Seal of Multiliteracy know that:
1. A rating of 2 or lower in any of the seven performance areas will disqualify a
student from earning the Seal of Multiliteracy.
2. A student must have a minimum of three 4’s to maintain eligibility for the
Seal of Multiliteracy.
Assessors’ Names:
Table Number:
Riverside County Seal of Multiliteracy Rubric for American Sign Language (ASL) Interview
Student Name:
District:
Portfolio Number:
For each column (lettered A-G), circle the 1, 2, 3, or 4 box to score in each category.
A. Correct
Vocabulary
B. Basic ASL
Structure
C. Fingerspelling Clarity
and Number Signs
D. Body Shift
1
Student demonstrates
many errors in sign
production.
Student signs only in
English word order or
inappropriate ASL
sentence order.
Student makes little or no
effort to fingerspell or sign
numbers correctly.
Body shift is not even
attempted.
Student uses no facial
expressions to match
ASL grammar.
Student does not use
any classifiers.
Student slouches
and/or does not look
at people during the
interview.
2
Student makes 3-5
errors in sign
production.
Student uses
appropriate ASL
sentence structure for
some of the interview.
Student made an effort to
sign fingerspelling and
number signs correctly.
Some body shift is used
but incorrectly.
Student makes many
errors in facial
expression.
Student attempts to
use classifiers but
they are not correct
and/or do not
support the idea.
Student sits up
straight and
establishes eye
contact at points,
not throughout the
entire interview, and
signing may be
sloppy or small.
3
Student makes less
than three errors in
sign production.
Student uses
appropriate ASL
sentence structure for
most of the interview.
Student’s fingerspelling
and number signs are
mostly signed correctly.
Body shift supports
material but is not
consistent during the
interview.
Student makes some
errors in facial
expressions.
Student uses correct
classifiers (hand
shape) but they are
not used
appropriately.
Student sits up
straight and
establishes eye
contact with
interviewers during
the interview.
4
Student signs
vocabulary without
any errors.
Student uses
appropriate ASL
sentence structure
throughout the
interview.
Student’s fingerspelling
and number concepts are
signed accurately.
Body shift is
appropriate during
entire interview.
Student uses
appropriate facial
expressions during the
entire interview.
Student uses
classifiers during
interview that are
appropriate and
correct with correct
movement and
handshape.
Student sits up
straight, looks
relaxed and
confident with clear,
concise signing.
Student establishes
eye contact with
interviewers as
appropriate during
the interview.
Column
Total:
For Office Use Only:
1. Add Columns A-G
2. Total = _______
Form T (rev. 2.11.13)
Column
Total:
Totals Key
1 - 17
=1
18 - 23 =2
24 - 26 =3*
27
=4*
28
=5*
Column
Total:
E. Facial Expression
F. Classifiers
G. Fluency and
Eye Contact
Column
Column
Column
Column
Total:
Total:
Total:
Total:
Comments:
Final Holistic Interview Score:
 A student must have a minimum of three 4’s to continue eligibility.
 Eligible for the  Not eligible for
 A holistic score of 3 or above allows a student to maintain eligibility.
Riverside County
the Riverside
Seal of
County Seal of
 A rating of 2 or lower in any of the seven performance areas will automatically disqualify a
student from earning the Seal of Multiliteracy regardless of sum total.
Multiliteracy.
Multiliteracy.
Adapted with permission from a rubric provided by Ms. Joni Kirby from Chino Valley USD.