Development and Validation of a Universal Science Writing Rubric That is Applicable to Diverse Genres of Science Writing

Abstract

ABSTRACT It is critical for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students to develop competencies in science communication, including science writing. However, it can be difficult for instructors and departments to assess the quality of their students’ science writing. Many published science writing rubrics are specific to certain genres like lab reports. We thus developed a Universal Science Writing Rubric (USWR) that is usable regardless of the genre or audience of science writing. This tool enables students, instructors, and departments to assess science writing written to lay or scientific audiences, focusing on important rhetorical concerns like science content and interpretation rather than simply surface features like grammar. We demonstrate the use of our USWR on various life science lab reports, scientific review articles, grant proposals, and news articles, showing that the USWR is sensitive enough to highlight statistically significant differences between groups of student writing samples and valid enough to produce results that echo published and anecdotal observations of STEM student science writing skills. Thus, the USWR is a useful tool for assessment of STEM student science writing that is widely applicable in the classroom and laboratory.

Keywords

• rubric
• writing
• science communication
• assessment tool