Rubric for the Geo-Journalist Website

Category	1	2	3	4	Comments & Score
Group
Layout/Design of Homepage	The pages are unattractive. Text is difficult to read. The backgrounds are distracting.	The pages appear "busy" or "boring". Text may be difficult to read. The backgrounds are somewhat distracting.	The pages are eye-catching and attractive. Text is easy to read. The backgrounds are subtle and appropriate.	The pages are well organized with tables. Text spacing and alignment make reading easy. The backgrounds enhance the page.
Graphics	There are no photos, icons or clip art or they are inappropriate or of low quality.	Photos are blurry or fuzzy; icons and clip art do not "fit" with the topic. Too many pictures make the download time slow.	Photos, icons, and clip art are appropriate, of high quality, and download fairly quickly.	Photos, icons, and clip art are used creatively and may follow a theme.
Links	The user may become lost or links may be missing or not working.	The user may become confused when navigating between pages. Some links may not work.	Links are consistent and easy to find so that the user can easily navigate back and forth through pages.	Links are created with images and icons to enhance the text links.
Information: Map; Visual; Title; Team Members, Links; Date.	Information is poorly written, inaccurate or incomplete or you are missing 3 of the 6 pieces.	Information could be better written and too much information is given in each section or you are missing 2 of the 6 pieces.	Information is complete, well-written and interesting to read.	Information is complete, creatively written and cleverly presented.
Bibliography	Bibliography page is mostly not complete and citations are formatted incorrectly.	Bibliography page is partially complete or citations are formatted incorrectly.	Bibliography page includes all resources and is correctly formatted.	Bibliography includes all resources and is correctly formatted and all graphics are cited on the web pages themselves.
Working Together	Partners argue or fight much of the time and do not share responsibilities.	Partners have trouble solving disagreements; one partner does most of work.	Partners get along well and share equally in responsibilities.	Partners show respect for one another, get along especially well and work together on all aspects of the project.
Total Group Rubric Score

Category	1	2	3	4	Comments & Score
Individual
Layout/Design of Homepage	The pages are unattractive. Text is difficult to read. The backgrounds are distracting.	The pages appear "busy" or "boring". Text may be difficult to read. The backgrounds are somewhat distracting.	The pages are eye-catching and attractive. Text is easy to read. The backgrounds are subtle and appropriate.	The pages are well organized with tables. Text spacing and alignment make reading easy. The backgrounds enhance the page.
Graphics	There are no photos, icons or clip art or they are inappropriate or of low quality.	Photos are blurry or fuzzy; icons and clip art do not "fit" with the topic. Too many pictures make the download time slow.	Photos, icons, and clip art are appropriate, of high quality, and download fairly quickly.	Photos, icons, and clip art are used creatively and may follow a theme.
Journal: For 3 Places: Date and Place Name; Visual and Map for each; 2 Facts, Personal Reflection and Connection to Standard for each.	2 of the 3 journal entries are incomplete or information is poorly written or inaccurate. Information does not address geography standards or place.	Information could be better written or 1 of the 3 journal entries is incomplete. Information is insufficiently related to the geography standards and the place.	Information is complete, well-written and interesting to read. The geography standards are sufficiently connected to the reflection and the place.	Information is complete, creatively written and cleverly presented. The geography standards are unmistakably connected to the reflection and the place.
Total Individual Rubric Score