Grading Assistant is optimized for a specific set of rubrics that assess whether students have successfully produced the essential components of an essay or paragraph. Grading Assistant rubrics are tailored to high-priority genres of writing that are emphasized in state standards and assessments.
The rubrics were developed in collaboration with teachers to ensure that they are practical tools that reflect real instructional needs and support effective student feedback. Grading Assistant is built to assist—not replace—teachers. By handling routine scoring tasks, it helps educators save time and focus on providing deeper, more personalized support.
How are Grading Assistant and State Test Rubrics Organized?
State test rubrics group writing traits into broad scoring categories such as Purpose & Organization and Evidence & Elaboration. These categories are intentionally general to work across a wide range of writing genres and tasks.
Grading Assistant breaks these broad categories into specific, teachable writing skills. This structure equips educators to precisely identify skill gaps, and provide meaningful feedback.
The following is an example of the Grading Assistant rubric for Argumentative Essays.
How Do Grading Assistant Rubrics Support State Test Goals?
NoRedInk’s Grading Assistant rubrics align with the same core categories as state test rubrics but take a more instructionally-focused approach. While state rubrics are designed for summative evaluation, NoRedInk’s rubrics are built for formative use in the classroom. Their detailed structure gives teachers concrete insight into students’ strengths and areas for growth, not just an overall score.
The following chart offers one example of how a Grading Assistant rubric aligns with the general categories found in many state writing rubrics.
While a state rubric might indicate a general weakness in Purpose & Organization, the Grading Assistant rubric clarifies whether a student needs to strengthen the thesis, revise the topic sentences, or develop their conclusion.
This level of specificity supports targeted practice, personalized instruction, and actionable revision feedback. Rather than summarizing performance, the Grading Assistant rubric acts as a roadmap for improvement.
What About Skills Not Assessed by the Rubrics?
While NoRedInk’s Grading Assistant rubric does not assign a score for other essential areas of writing, such as grammar and conventions, this design reflects a purposeful emphasis on focused feedback designed to help teachers take action for improvement.
A single conventions score often leaves students unsure of how to grow. Instead of bundling grammar into a single score, NoRedInk offers dedicated tools to support grammar and conventions, including:
- Skills Benchmarks for schools and districts
- Planning Diagnostics, Unit Diagnostics, and Growth Quizzes for teachers