The Rubric for Scientific Writing: A Validation Study

• In Event: 66.057 - Roundtable Session 27
  In Roundtable Session: 66.057-8 - Serious Writing: Preteen to Adolescent Writing Attitudes and Processes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to validate a rubric, the Rubric for Scientific Writing, which can be used to support scientific writing instruction and assessment. Drawing from the Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards, this rubric assesses students’ general writing skills and their ability to write appropriately within the scientific genre. Three certified English and three certified science teachers evaluated 75 authentic samples of students’ scientific writing and participated in a focus group. Drawing from both qualitative and quantitative data, our findings demonstrate that the Rubric for Scientific Writing produces valid and reliable scores of students’ scientific writing, thus allowing future researchers and teachers to examine how instruction and interventions impact these two aspects of scientific writing.

Authors

• Katherine Landau Wright, Boise State University

• Tracey S. Hodges, University of Alabama

• Erin M. McTigue, Texas A&M University

• Jennifer K. LeBlanc, Johns Hopkins University/ Riffa Views International School