Grade Discussions in Canvas

Last updated on May 28, 2026

Instructors can use the SpeedGrader feature to easily grade individual discussion submissions within Canvas. These grades automatically populate the gradebook. Using SpeedGrader for discussion posts can save you time, keep you organized, and help you provide useful feedback to your students.

Note: Make sure that you checked the Graded setting when creating your discussion. See the “Create a Discussion in Canvas” tutorial for more information.

Directions

Open Discussion in SpeedGrader

1. Go to MSU Denver’s Faculty and Staff Hub.
2. Click Quick Links on the top right of the page.
3. Click Canvas from the menu options that appear.
4. Log in to your Canvas Account.
5. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
6. Click Grades on the course navigation menu to the left.
7. Hover your cursor over the Name of the discussion you want to grade.
8. Click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) that appears next to the name.
9. Select SpeedGrader.
10. View the Student’s Submission. The student’s name is listed in the top right corner of the page.
11. Click the Arrow in the upper-right corner to view the next student’s submission.

Grade Discussion

1. View the student’s posts on the left-hand side of the Speedgrader Window.
2. Click switch to viewing the full discussion context to view the entire discussion board.
   • The student’s replies will be highlighted.
   • Click the arrows at the top of the right-side panel to switch focus to the student’s next reply.
3. Enter the student’s grade in the Assessment Grade Box on the right-side panel.
   • The grade in the gradebook will automatically update when you input a score.
   • The steps for discussions with Graded Checkpoints or with attached Rubrics are a little different. See the sections below for guidance.
4. Type comments/feedback in the Assignment Comments Box if desired.
   • Note: You can also attach files and media by clicking the icons below the comment box.
5. Click Submit Comment.
6. Click the Gradebook icon in the upper-left to return to the Gradebook when you are finished.

Grade a Discussion with Graded Checkpoints

Note: Missing and Late Policies will apply to each checkpoint individually rather than the assignment as a whole. Only the checkpoint that was late or missing will receive point deductions from these policies.

1. Click switch to viewing the full discussion context at the top of the left-side panel to view the entire discussion board.
   • Note: This is a necessary step to see which of the student’s posts was the Reply to Topic, and which were Required Replies.
2. View the student’s Reply to Topic. This should be the first reply highlighted.
3. Enter a score in the Reply to Topic Grade Box.
4. Click the right arrow at the top of the right-side panel (next to Reply 1 of [#]) to switch focus to the student’s next reply.
5. View the student’s additional replies.
   • If more than one additional reply was required, continue clicking the arrow to switch to the next reply until you have reviewed all additional replies.
6. Enter a score in the Required Replies Grade Box.
   • The Current Total will automatically update once scores are entered.
7. Type comments/feedback in the Assignment Comments Box if desired.
8. Click Submit Comment.
9. Click the Gradebook icon in the upper-left to return to the Gradebook when you are finished.

Grade a Discussion with an Attached Rubric

Note: For grades to automatically sync with the Rubric score, the Use this Rubric for Grading setting must be enabled in the rubric settings. See our tutorial, Attach a Rubric to a Discussion, for more guidance.

1. Click switch to viewing the full discussion context at the top of the left-side panel to view the entire discussion board.
2. View the student’s replies.
   • Click the arrows at the top of the right-side panel to switch focus to the student’s next reply.
3. Click on the drop-down box labeled View Mode under Rubric & Feedback.
   • Traditional Rubric View: Displays the rubric in a familiar grid format with criteria listed in rows and performance levels listed in columns. 
   • Horizontal Rubric View: Organizes criteria in a list with the rating level numbers displayed in a row underneath the criterion description.
     • Click on each rating to view the rating level description.
   • Vertical Rubric View: Organizes criteria in a list with the rating level numbers displayed vertically beneath the criterion description.
     • Click on each rating to view the rating level description.
4. Click on the Appropriate Rating Box for a criterion to evaluate that student.
5. Optionally Type any criteria specific feedback in the comment box below the criterion.
   • Note: In Traditional View, you can provide criterion-specific feedback by clicking on the Comment Icon within the pts box.
6. Repeat for each criterion.
   • Note: Total points will auto-calculate. You can override this by typing a different value in the Points box under the criterion.
7. Click the Submit Assessment button under the rubric.