Instructional Support

Attaching rubrics to assignments, discussions, and quiz questions

Once you have created a rubric, you will need to link it to a course activity in order to be able to use it for grading.

  • What is required: A D2L course in which you are using the Rubrics tool to assess student work

Option 1: Attach an existing rubric to an Assignment

Edit the assignment you wish to link to your rubric by selecting edit from the action menu.

  1. On the Properties tab, click the Add Rubric button.
  2. Check the selection box by the title of the rubric you want to associate with the assignment.
  3. Click the Add Selected button.
  4. You will now see the title of the associated rubric below the Add Rubric button.
  5. To delete/cancel the association, click the red X after the rubric title.
  6. Click the Save button.

Option 2: Attach an existing rubric to a Discussion

Edit the Discussion you wish to link to your rubric by selecting edit topic from the action menu.

  1. Select the Assessment tab.
  2. Click the Add Rubric button.
  3. Check the box by the title of the rubric you want to associate with the assignment.
  4. Click the Add Selected button.
  5. You will now see the title of the associated rubric below the Add Rubric button.
  6. To delete/cancel the association, click the red X icon after the rubric title.
  7. Click the Save button.
Option 3: Attach an existing rubric to a written-response Quiz question
  1. On the default Navbar, click on Coursework and the  Quizzes.
  2. Click on the title of your quiz to edit it.
  3. Scroll down to your questions and click to edit the specific Written Response question.
  4. Expand the question options and click Add Rubric.
  5. Select Add Existing to use an existing rubric.
  6. Click Save on the question, and then Save and Close on your quiz.

Please note: When a rubric is attached to an activity, a rubric icon appears beside the item in the Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes list pages. Written response questions in the Quiz Creation page also display a rubric indicator when a rubric is attached. This rubric icon is “informational” only and does not link to the rubric itself.

Updated 6/24/2026