These grading rubrics provide an attempt to formalize the way that scientists evaluate scientific work. Most of the rubric is subtractive. This means that the rubric describes various sorts of mistakes, and the numbers of points that can be deducted for them. The total number of points that can be deducted from each category adds to much more than 100 because scientific work can be rendered invalid by poor performance in any of these areas. Unsafe practices or plagiarism lead immediately to a failing grade.

At the very end of the rubric, there is room for additions of points. Adding points accounts for exceptional or innovative work. This part of the rubric captures the idea that the best scientific work has an element of creativity and effort that cannot be captured by the simple avoidance of doing anything wrong.

To use the rubric, the instructor will decide on the baseline value from which points will be subtracted for errors and omissions. This value may be less than 100. Getting the maximum score of 100 may require the addition of points from the final section of the rubric.

Please note that no rubric or checklist can fully capture the full range of strengths and difficulties that describe independent inquiries. This rubric provides a guide to help you identify common misconceptions and errors, but cannot fully cover all cases.