Rubric for Evaluating Newsletter

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Criteria

Accomplished
*Four numbered pages. *Page size 8.5x11. *Date and issue number on first page

Proficient
Six of the seven specifications are met.

Needs Improvement
Five of the seven specifications are met.

Unacceptable
Four or fewer of the seven specifications are met.

Basic Format Specifications and Vitals

*Sponsoring business or organization identified (logo may serve this purpose). *Contact information included. *Instructions for submitting story ideas and/or other method of soliciting participation/feedback from readership. *Submission in PDF form.

10 points
*Purpose of newsletter is clearly stated and/or evident in design and content choices.

8 points.
*Clear purpose; contains no more than two design/content choices inconsistent with purpose. *Purpose relates to a specific personal or professional interest.

6 points.
*Clear purpose, but contains three to four design/content choices inconsistent with purpose. *Purpose lacks focus on a specific personal or professional interest.

0 points.
*Unclear purpose, or document contains five or more inconsistent design/content choices. *Purpose lacks focus on a specific personal of professional interest.

Purpose

*Purpose relates to a specific personal or professional interest.

5-4 points
*Intended audience(s) (both primary and secondary) is/are clearly stated and/or evident in design and content choices. *

3-2 points
*Audience(s) clear; no more than two design/content choices inappropriate to audience(s). *If secondary audience is intended, content choices for each audience segregated on different pages.

1 points
If secondary audience intended, no design/content choices included to accommodate this audience.

0 points
Intended audience(s) unclear or unrelated to design/content choices.

Audience

*If secondary audience is intended, content choices included on each page to accommodate each intended audience.

5-4 points
*At least 2, but no more than 3 columns per page.

3-2 points
*At least 2, but no more than three columns per page. *Column widths consistent within the same story. *Space between column is consistent and sufficient to avoid

1 points
*At least 2, but no more than three columns per page. No more than two of the following violations present: *Column widths inconsistent within

0 points
*Use of fewer than 2 or more than 3 columns per page. *More than two violations of previously stated column specifications.

Effective Use of Text Columns

*Column widths and space consistent within the same story. *Space between columns is consistent and sufficient to avoid crowding. *Justified alignment used

Rubric for Evaluating Newsletter

consistently; ragged-right justification reserved for minor stories. *Copy jumped to another page clearly marked. * Creative use of two and three column layout on the same page when readability is not sacrificed. crowding. *Justified alignment used consistently; ragged-right justification reserved for minor stories. *Copy jumped to another page clearly marked. the same story. *Space between columns inconsistent or insufficient to prevent crowding. *Justified alignment used inconsistently; ragged-right alignment applied inappropriately. *Copy jumped to another page not clearly marked.

Page 2 of 5

5-4 points
*Limits use of body copy fonts to one or two. *Headlines for each story, using larger size fonts for lead stories; secondary headline fonts are larger than that used for minor stories; font for story text smaller than all heading fonts. *Avoids running headlines together and crowding text too closely; text within text boxes does not crowd the edges.

3-2 points
*Limits use of body copy fonts to one or two. *Headlines for each story, using larger size fonts for lead stories; headline fonts are larger than that used secondary headlines and story text. *Avoids running headlines together and crowding text too closely; text within text boxes does not crowd the edges. *Font color, style, and size are selected with readability in mind. *Meets one of the remaining previously stated requirements.

1 points
*Limits use of body copy fonts to one or two. *Headlines for each story, using larger size fonts for lead stories; headline fonts are larger than that used for story text. *Avoids running headlines together and crowding text too closely; text within text boxes does not crowd the edges. *Meets one of the remaining previously stated requirements.

0 points
*Uses more than two body copy fonts . *Major and minor headlines not distinct, and story text not distinct from headlines. *Other requirements not observed.

Effective Use of Typography

*Text color and size are selected with readability in mind. *Font size and style distinguishes jump heads from other headlines. *Font size and style selected to distinguish page numbers from other text elements. *Use of fonts as design elements, such as drop caps to begin paragraphs, pull quotes, or decorative headlines.

5-4 points

3-2 points

1 points

0 points

Rubric for Evaluating Newsletter

*Eight or more graphics, which must include at least four photographs, but may also include illustrations or charts/diagrams. *Dominant graphic on each page (specific criteria for dominant graphic on page one addressed under Distinctive Design for Page One of this rubric). *Seven to six graphics, at least four of which are photographs. *Dominant graphic on each page. *Images are not distorted (maintain correct aspect ratio). *Photographs and other graphics (as appropriate) include explanatory cutlines (captions). *Text-wrapping used as appropriate. *Other previously stated graphic requirements and features not observed. *At least five graphics, with no less than three photographs. *Images on most pages, but every page does not have dominant graphic. *Some images distorted, lack cut lines, and/or textwrapping. *Other previously stated graphic requirements and features not observed.

Page 3 of 5

*Fewer than five graphics (photographs, illustrations, graphs/charts). *Other previously stated graphic requirements and features not present.

Graphics

*Images are not distorted (correct aspect ratio maintained). *Photographs and other graphics (as appropriate) include explanatory cutlines (captions). *Text-wrapping used as appropriate. *Includes extracted images and/or picture effects (shadows, frames, angled placement, etc.) to enhance overall design.

5-4 points
*Presence of distinctive logo. *Banner or distinctive font/design format for newsletter title. *Sponsoring organization identified but not within banner or positioned to contribute to overall page one design. *Strong dominant graphic that establishes identity and/or color scheme/design theme.

3-2 points
*Presence of distinctive logo. *Strong banner/title design. *Sponsoring organization identified within banner or positioned to contribute to overall page one design. *Dominant graphic present, but does not establish newsletter identity or color scheme/design theme.

1 points
*Logo weak or missing. *Sponsoring organization identified, but not within banner or positioned contribute to overall page one design. *Adequate banner/title design or dominant graphic (not both).

0 points
*Page one is indistinguishable from other pages.

Distinctive Design for Page One

10-9 points
*In overall design, sizes of textboxes, graphics, and other design elements proportioned to approximate the Golden Ratio (A/B = A+B/A). *Overall design employs Rule of Thirds: important visual elements (graphics, headlines, or textboxes) positioned along

8-7 points
Application of the Golden Ratio and/or the Rule of Thirds on three page.

6-5 points
Application of the Golden Ratio and/or the Rule of Thirds on two pages.

0 points
No application of the Golden Ratio or the Rule of Thirds; placement and sizing of elements appears random or relies heavily on symmetry and vertical/ horizontal centering.

Use of the Golden Ratio and the Rule of Thirds

Rubric for Evaluating Newsletter

the nodes of visual force.

Page 4 of 5

10-9 points
Use of contrast on each page, consisting of the following features: *Font types, sizes, styles, and colors; text color contrasts with background color. *Column variation on each page ( number of columns, width, color- blocked text next to white columns, some columns ragged-right where appropriate , rule lines to separate stories). *Five or more examples on each page of contrasting colors and shapes in graphics and other design elements to distinguish various content and create visual interest.

8-7 points
Contrast on each page, demonstrated by the following features: *At least two methods of contrast evident in font types, sizes, styles, or colors. *At least two methods of contrast evident in column layout. *Four to two examples on each page of color and/or shape contrast in graphics and other design elements.

6-5 points
Some contrast apparent on each page: *Use of contrast limited to two of the three features previously mentioned.

0 points
Contrast not employed on each page such that overall design lacks visual interest.

Contrast

10-9 points
Repetition on each page and across pages, consisting of the following features: *Font types, sizes, styles, and colors repeated to identify specific elements or content types. *Consistent underlying column layout apparent; not disrupted though variation is used.

8-7 points
Repetition on each page and across pages, demonstrated by the following features: *At least two methods of repetition evident in font types, sizes, or colors. *Consistent underlying column layout. *Banner, logo, or other design elements repeated across pages to establish unified identity. *Four to two examples of color and/or shape repetition in graphics and other design elements.

6-5 points
*Repetition apparent on each page, but not consistently across pages. *Use of repetition limited to two of the three features previously mentioned.

0 points
*Repetition not employed on each page or across pages such that overall design lacks unity.

Repetition

*Banner, logo, or other design elements repeated across pages to establish unified identity. *Five or more examples of repeated colors and shapes in graphics and other design elements to establish visual unity.

10-9 points

8-7 points

6-5 points

0 points

Rubric for Evaluating Newsletter

Each page demonstrates the following uses of alignment: *Overall layout aligns on the left and right margins. * Both vertical and horizontal alignment of graphics and text units are used to aid readability and connect design elements. *White space between aligned elements is consistent, prevents crowding, and allows viewers eye to flow through the design. One of the previously mentioned alignment considerations is violated on one or more pages. Two of the previously mentioned alignment considerations are violated on one or more pages.

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Violations of alignment considerations present on each page.

Alignment

10-9 points
Each page demonstrates use of proximity in the following features: *Headlines are close to stories; cut lines (captions) are close to images. *Related graphics and images are grouped, with enough space between these groups to distinguish them from other elements.

8-7 points
Proximity considerations violated on one page.

6-5 points
Proximity considerations violated on two pages.

0 points
Proximity considerations violated on three or more pages.

Proximity

10-9 points
No errors.

8-7 points
No more than two errors.

6-5 points
Three-four errors.

0 points
Five or more errors.

Spelling, Grammar, and Mechanics 5 points

4-3 points

2-1 points

0 points