Speech & Debate

Evidence File Rubric

1 2 3 4Evidence &

Support Material

Contains less than 20 pieces of evidence related to debate topic

Contains 20 pieces of evidence related to debate topic

Contains less than 28 pieces of evidence specific to debate topic and/or offers little variety of information

Contains 30 or more pieces of evidence; offers a variety of information (illustrations, statistics, testimony, analogies, comparisons) to support arguments

Synthesis of

evidence – how

evidence supports debate

Does not understand or analyze the evidence/ no mention or reference to key points

Insufficient explanation of evidence

Summarizes the main ideas of the evidence, but simply restates what reported

Offers interpretations or extensions (generalizations,applications, analogies) of the evidence and how benefits to arguments

Citations No citations for evidence file

Minimal citations throughout evidence file

Citations included with each piece of evidence from a variety of sources

Incorporates citations for every piece of evidence collected from at least 10 different sources

Completion of

Evidence File

Half or more of the evidence file is incomplete

Two-thirds of the evidence file is completed; missing some elements in file

All components of evidence file complete; general responses in file

All components of evidence file complete; ideas communicated thoroughly and clearly

Use of Class Time

Student did majority of work at home, unable to stay on task during class time; distracting to peers

Student needed reminders to stay on task, did not use time to full potential

Student used class time to complete mostly all of the evidence file

Student used class time efficiently and effectively in completing task