ASTR 101 — Homework Rubric (1–5 Scale)

Use this to grade each problem in your Grade Memo

Author

Dr. Anna Rosen

Per-Problem Scoring

Use this scale to grade each homework problem in your Wednesday Grade Memo.

Score What It Means Examples
5 Correct + scientifically clear Correct result, clear reasoning, units consistent, assumptions stated, work readable and organized
4 Essentially correct, minor issues Right method and answer, but small algebra slip, missing brief explanation, or unclear step
3 Partially correct, meaningful gaps Some correct reasoning but significant mistakes — wrong setup, incomplete solution, inconsistent units
2 Attempted, mostly incorrect Real attempt shown, but approach is wrong — incorrect model, major conceptual error, steps don’t connect
1 Minimal progress Too little work to evaluate, or too incomplete/unclear to score
0 No attempt Nothing submitted for this problem

The Golden Rule

Score based on visible reasoning. If your reasoning isn’t shown, it can’t earn a high score — even if your final answer is correct.

What “Show Your Work” Means

For full credit, your solutions should include:

  1. Setup — What are you solving for?
  2. Knowns/Unknowns — What values do you have? What’s missing?
  3. Equations or reasoning — Why are you doing what you’re doing?
  4. Units at every step — Units are error-checking, not decoration
  5. Labeled final answer — Box or circle it

Common Error Types

When something goes wrong, identify which type of error it was:

Error Type What It Means
Units Wrong units, missing units, or didn’t convert properly
Algebra Math mistake (arithmetic, solving equations, etc.)
Concept Misunderstood the physics or astronomy idea
Sign Positive/negative error
Assumptions Used wrong model or made invalid assumption
Interpretation Got a number but didn’t explain what it means

Be Honest

Self-grading isn’t about giving yourself a high score. It’s about accurate self-assessment:

  • If you guessed and got lucky → that’s a 2 or 3, not a 5
  • If you showed clear reasoning but made a small slip → that’s a 4
  • If you have no idea whether your answer is right → say so

Honest reflection is worth more than a padded score.