Thinking Skills

Assessment Rubric Draft

MS Compare and Contrast

Descriptor & Points	Chooses appropriate characteristics for comparison.	Identifies similarities and differences between two or more items.	Uses the identified similarities and differences to reach important conclusions or insights.
Expert 4	Selects important features or attributes that can provide insight into the nature of those items being compared.	Accurately selects all major similarities and differences for each item.	Draws insightful conclusions from the similarities and differences, usually highlighting either one or the other.
Practitioner 3	Selects characteristics that can provide for a meaningful comparison.	Selects similarities and differences for each item.	Draws some insightful conclusions from the comparison.
Apprentice 2	Selects characteristics that provide for a partial comparison of the items.	Makes some errors in identifying major similarities and differences.	Isn’t clear about the significance of the comparison.
Novice 1	Selects characteristics that are not important and don’t lead to insightful conclusions.	Makes many errors in identifying major similarities and differences.	Does not get far beyond noting similarities and differences.