Inquiry Rubric

The ability to identify, formulate and communicate questions that guide investigation and reflection toward discovery; the ability to critically and thoroughly examine one’s own assumptions and the assumptions of others.

Description

Inquiry takes form in compelling questions that drive our creativity, test our own assumptions, and push us to engage with authentic problems and thorny issues. Successful practice of Inquiry starts with developing lines of questioning and being open to where the research leads, which could refine or redirect the questions, or lead to entirely new questions. Examining assumptions – in the questions asked, in the evidence found, and in one’s own perspective- can lead to new insights and conclusions. Acquiring more information is its immediate result, but the capacity to inquire well is the key to a life full of discovery, meaning-making, and purpose.

PDF

A traditional rubric PDF for Inquiry can be found here

Develop Questions

Develops lines of questioning in order to seek meaningful or solve a problem (Purposeful). Recognizes that questions may not have a single definitive answer. Describes how the lines of questioning are shaped by context and history and that the process and results are full of ambiguity and potential bias.

Develops lines of questioning in order to seek meaning or solve a problem (purposeful). Recognizes that questions may not have a single definitive answer, and that the line of questioning, as well as solutions/answers, are shaped by context.

Develops a line of questioning. Questions are solution oriented. Recognizes the possibility of multiple answers or solutions.

Develops a line of questioning with guidance. Formulates questions with the expectation of a single concrete answer.

Formulates simple questions and accepts single, definitive answers.

Research, Explore

Conducts research as a process oriented towards exploration and discovery.  Research is informed by questions framed to generate further thinking, dialogue, and curiosity, and the process is designed to probe systemic and underlying causes as well as tacit assumptions.

Conducts research as a process oriented towards exploration and discovery. Probes questions in a way that leads to further questions.

Conducts research as a process oriented towards immediate solutions rather than exploration and discovery. States a research topic. Research question may be smaller in scope than the context requires.

Conducts research to find a  correct answer. States a research topic. Research question may be difficult to discern.

Absence of research question or thesis.

Seek Evidence

Integrates evidence uncovered in research to further refine the question(s), and lead to further questions. Evidence is used to explore systemic biases and tacit assumptions.

Provides evidence to support or refute possible answers, and uses evidence to further refine the question(s).

Provides evidence to support possible answers.

Evidence provided may be incomplete or less relevant to the line of questioning.

Evidence is unrelated to the line of questioning.

Examine and Reflect

Critically examines  own assumptions, the assumptions inherent in the evidence, and the assumptions  in the questions themselves.

Critically examines own assumptions and the assumptions inherent in the evidence.

Examines some of their own assumptions and/or the assumptions inherent in the evidence.

Identifies some assumptions. 

Reflection on assumptions absent.