Rubric Lifecycle
Rubrics can be created, edited, duplicated, and assigned to lesson assignments.
Attach the rubric before student activity begins to align grading expectations.
- Open your class in the instructor portal.
- Open the Rubrics tab.
- Choose New Rubric to create a rubric for an assignment that does not yet have one.
- Use Edit to update an existing rubric.
- Use Duplicate to copy an existing rubric to a different assignment (each assignment can have one rubric).
- Optional: Use Download CSV Template and Upload CSV to build rubrics from a spreadsheet.
One Rubric Per Assignment
In the class Rubrics tab, each assignment can have one rubric. If all assignments already have rubrics, you may need to create a new assignment or delete a rubric before duplicating or importing another.
Grade a Student Submission
Grading is completed from the Grade Submission view for a specific student submission.
Use the rubric to score consistently, and add instructor feedback comments to explain performance.
- Open your class in the instructor portal and locate the assignment you want to grade.
- Open the student submission to enter the Grade Submission view.
- In Essay Grade, enter the points earned for the written submission (0 to Maximum Points).
- In Rubric Assessment, select the appropriate level for each criterion.
- Click Apply Rubric Score to calculate points from rubric selections (if you are using rubric scoring).
- Add Instructor Feedback comments to provide the student with actionable guidance.
- Review the Final Grade before saving.
- Save your changes and confirm the submission shows the updated grading state.
Blackboard Sync After Saving
Saving a grade triggers grade synchronization so the Blackboard gradebook reflects the latest final score. If sync fails, use the Blackboard Sync Status panel to retry.
How Grades Are Determined
Final grades are based on the essay score (points), interview completion, and the assignment Interview Weight setting.
Conceptually, VerbalCheck applies an interview multiplier to the essay score, then applies optional adjustments to produce the final points and percent.
- Start with the Essay Score you enter (or set via Apply Rubric Score).
- Compute interview completion rate based on questions completed.
- Apply the Interview Weight multiplier: when the interview is incomplete, the final grade is reduced.
- If Require 100% interview completion is enabled, partial completion is treated as 0% completion.
- Apply optional adjustments: authenticity deduction (if applied) and manual adjustment points.
- The Final Grade card shows the breakdown and the projected final points.
Grade Formula (Interview Multiplier)
VerbalCheck calculates an interview multiplier and applies it to the essay score. Interview multiplier = interviewWeight + completionRate x (1 - interviewWeight) Final grade (before adjustments) = essayScore x interview multiplier In this formula: - essayScore is the essay score as a fraction (0.0 to 1.0). - interviewWeight is the assignment Interview Weight as a fraction (0.0 to 1.0). - completionRate is the interview completion rate as a fraction (0.0 to 1.0).
Example Outcomes
If an essay is scored at 90/100 points and Interview Weight is 40%: - Full interview completion (100%): final remains 90/100. - No interview completion (0%): final becomes 36/100. If Require 100% interview completion is enabled, partial completion is treated the same as 0%.
Use The Breakdown For Transparency
The Final Grade panel includes a calculation breakdown. Use it to explain how interview completion and adjustments affected the final score.
Authenticity Deductions Are Optional
If an authenticity advisory is shown, any deduction is optional and under instructor control. The instructor maintains full control over the final grade.
Student Rubric Visibility
Students can review rubric details from assignment and results views once available.
Use rubric-aligned feedback comments to explain performance at criterion level.
Screenshots
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