Resources for Assessing Communication Activities Types of
Rubrics Perhaps the most common type of assessment is one that
identifies key features of a given communication task either
because such features are critical to general success in the
activity or because they are the pedagogical focus for
particular learning. Such rubrics provide descriptive feedback
rather than specific advice for student improvement. The
individual factors can be weighted. Overall, an analytic rubric
can reinforce valuable communication principles, suggest
specific areas of strength and weakness, and provide the basis
for future improvements and goal setting. No list of descriptive
features, however, no matter how detailed, equates precisely to
the overall communicative effect and thus should not be confused
with holistic assessment. When it is not possible or desirable
to assess communication work based on independent features or
when such features significantly overlap or interact, holistic
assessment is the appropriate choice. Ho