COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

For detailed descriptions of the Portfolio Method, the portfolio writing assignments, the Faculty Specialization Report, and oral presentations, see Detailed Assignment Descriptions.  For information on Participation and Attendance policies, please consult that page on the syllabus.  PLEASE NOTE: FAILURE TO TURN IN ANY ASSIGNMENT, INCLUDING DUE DATES TO YOUR GROUP AND FOR INITIAL DRAFTS WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE, REGARDLESS OF YOUR GRADES ON ANY OTHER ASSIGNMENTS. 

IF YOU FAIL TO SUBMIT A DRAFT TO YOUR GROUP BY THE WORKSHOP DEADLINE, OR TO THE INSTRUCTORS, FOR EACH DAY (24 hour period) YOU ARE LATE, THE GRADE FOR YOUR ENTIRE PORTFOLIO WILL BE PENALIZED BY ONE HALF GRADE.

Course Portfolio = 700 points (70%)

Short Oral Presentation of Major Project = 50 points (5 %)

Participation and Attendance = (participation includes your contributions and involvement in your writing group) = 250 points (25%)

Grading Scale

Evaluation and Grading for Short Class Presentation
 

Your brief (3-5 minute) presentation will be evaluated according to the following criteria. The grading scale is from 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent).  If you exceed your assigned time of 3-5 minutes, the instructor will stop you.  It is imperative that you rehearse your presentation to ensure success.

1  2  3  4  5                         Presenter captured and kept audience attention.

1  2  3  4  5                         Presentation had a clear focus and was well-organized

1  2  3  4  5                         Presenter demonstrated thorough knowledge of the topic

1  2  3  4  5                         Presenter demonstrated good oral presentation skills

1  2  3  4  5                         Handout was carefully prepared and effective.

Paper Grading Criteria

NB: Your writing will be evaluated based on your portfolio as a whole; however, in order to provide you helpful guidelines for your writing, I provide you with the department's grading standards for all written work.  You may wish to bear them in mind, as applicable, as you work on individual pieces.

Please note also that these comments refer to the evaluation of the end product of a lengthy process--the final revised version of a paper, not the first or even the second draft. Global and local revisions are vital components of the writing of any student.

An A (outstanding) paper is unique, original, engaging, and full. It will have virtually no grammatical, usage, punctuation, or spelling errors. It has a unique "voice" that reflects an individual writer behind it, and will speak with authority and clarity. It is rich in detail, showing a clear understanding of differences in levels of specificity; it provides justification or support for all general assertions. Its treatment of the topic avoids a feeling of "anonymity." It addresses the assignment directly without avoiding specific requirements.

The B (above average) paper falls short of an A paper usually in two areas: style and development. It has some errors in grammar, usage, punctuation, or spelling, but usually very few; or it has some awkward phrases--but in neither case enough to impede the reading of the paper. Its development is consistently strong, with detail and support present in most, but perhaps not every, instance. Its sense of audience is clear. The B paper addresses the assignment directly and satisfies almost all of its requirements. The B grade is not given to a paper that is not clearly and demonstrably above average.
 

A grade of B+ may be given to a paper whose elements place it in the upper range of B papers, but which is still not of A quality.

The C (average) paper addresses the assignment directly and relatively clearly, but without significant depth or clarity. Stylistic errors may be noticeably present, but not in such quantity as to impede the reading in a significant way. A C paper generally provides some support for assertions, but not enough to give the impression of complete thoroughness. The tone and voice of a C paper are fairly clear but often lack a sense of individuality of author or sense of authority. A C paper often has an "anonymous" quality to it, restating standard opinion or assertions without going into significant depth. A C paper is in control of its subject in a reasonable but not yet comprehensive manner.

It is important to note that a C grade on a paper does not mean that the writing, or the student's performance, is in any way poor or substandard. A C means that the work is basically solid and acceptable.

A grade of C+ may be given to a paper whose elements place it in the upper range of C papers, but which is still not of B quality.

The D (below average) paper addresses the assignment only in a brief way, avoiding some of the requirements of the assignment. Many general statements without proof, support, or justification often characterize it. Its usage, grammar, punctuation, or spelling are such that reading the paper is somewhat difficult; it has more than a few such errors per page. It is kept from being an F paper by the fact that it does address the assignment in some way and that it has some structure and does make coherent points.

An F paper has many grammatical, stylistic, punctuation, usage, or diction errors (enough to make reading the paper difficult); it makes few if any coherent assertions about the point; it has little structure; or it has any combination of these problems. A paper which may be acceptable in style and development, but which does not address the assignment at all, may also be given a grade of F.