Rubric (noun)

1. A set of instructions or guidelines for a task or activity.
2. A title or heading of a document or manuscript.
3. A category or criterion in a student's work or an examination that is used for grading.

Origin:

Late middle english: from latin rubrica (feminine of rubricus) "red ochre, title", from ruber "red", from the use of red ink in early manuscripts for headings and titles. the original sense was "title or heading of a document, etc."; later "a guide or set of instructions".

Examples:

1. The teacher provided a rubric for the students to use when writing their research paper.
2. The rubric for the competition outlined the criteria for judging the entries.
3. The rubric for the test included categories for content, organization, and grammar.
4. The rubric in the manuscript"s title page stated the author"s name and the date of publication.
5. The rubric provided a clear set of guidelines for the students to follow in completing the project.