Timeline Rubric
Student Name:
Copyright 2004 IRA/NCTE. All rights reserved.
ReadWriteThink materials may be reproduced for educational purposes.
Category 4 3 2 1
Quality of content
Included events are
important and
interesting. No major
details are excluded.
Most of the included
events are important
or interesting. One or
two major events
may be missing.
Some events included
are trivial, and major
events are missing.
Many major events
are excluded, and too
many trivial events
are included.
Quantity of facts
The timeline contains
at least 8–10 events
related to the topic
being studied.
The timeline contains
at least 6–7 events
related to the topic
being studied.
The timeline contains
at least 5 events
related to the topic
being studied.
The timeline contains
fewer than 5 events.
Accuracy of
content
Facts are accurate for
all events reported on
the timeline.
Facts are accurate for
almost all events
reported on the
timeline.
Facts are accurate for
most (~75%) of the
events reported on
the timeline.
Facts are often
inaccurate for events
reported on the
timeline.
Sequence of
content
Events are placed in
proper order.
Almost all events are
placed in proper
order.
Most (~75%) of the
events are placed in
proper order.
Most events are
incorrectly placed on
the timeline.
Dates
An accurate,
complete date has
been included for
each event.
An accurate,
complete date has
been included for
almost every event.
An accurate date has
been included for
almost every event.
Dates are inaccurate
or missing for several
events.
Sentence fluency
Events are clearly
described using
accurate and vivid
language.
Events are described
well, but language is
sometimes vague or
inaccurate.
Events are not
described well and
language is often
vague or inaccurate.
Events are described
using vague language
or inaccurate
information.
Mechanics
Punctuation, spelling
and capitalization
were checked by
another student and
are correct
throughout.
Punctuation, spelling
and capitalization
were checked by
another student and
are mostly correct.
Punctuation, spelling,
and capitalization are
mostly correct, but
were not checked by
another student.
There are many
punctuation, spelling,
and capitalization
errors.
