Oral Dissertation Defense
Scoring Rubric
Student: ________________________________ Date: __________
Faculty member: _________________________
Please place a checkmark within the appropriate box for each category.
Not Acceptable
(Novice)
Acceptable
(Intermediate)
Good
(Proficient)
Excellent
(Distinguished)
Delivery:
Communication,
awareness of
audience, eye
contact
No awareness of
audience; does not
make eye contact;
reads entire
presentation
Limited awareness
of audience; makes
eye contact but
reads much of
presentation
Good vocal & visual
communication;
acceptable delivery
of presentation
Excellent
communication
skills; good
interaction with
audience
Content:
Background
Minimal idea
development
Basic idea
development, lacks
detail
Substantial idea
development with
adequate detail
Strong idea
development with
evidence of
thought, reflection
Purpose and
Hypothesis
Limited, vague
presentation of
rationale
Acceptable
statements of
purpose and
hypothesis
Clear focus on both
purpose and
hypothesis
Excellent focus on
both, relating
purpose and
hypothesis
statements
Methods
Confusing, difficult
to follow.
Clear method but
lacking rationale
Clear, concise
method with
appropriate
rationale
Clear, concise
method with good,
evidence-based
support
Analysis
Inappropriate type
of analysis
Analysis
appropriate but
lacks good
understanding of
choice
Appropriate
analysis with good
rationale for choice
Well-developed
analytical choices
and techniques with
strong basis of
support
Discussion,
Conclusions
Cannot
communicate what
results mean
Brief discussion of
results and
implications
Clearly understands
implications of
results
Strong evidence of
analysis, insight
and reflection
Organization of
Presentation
Weak, disorganized
Adequate
organization,
somewhat
unfocused
Clear, focused
presentation that is
logical
Clear and focused
but also rich in style
Wording,
grammar
Many errors
Few errors
Error-free
Good variation in
format and
error-free
Successful completion of the final defense:
The student must achieve an average score of 2 (acceptable) out of 4 (distinguished) from every
dissertation committee member.