Grading Criteria:
- Content: the clarity and interest of the central idea (thesis), the strength and appropriateness of the support and the depth of the student’s insight into the topic. The quality of the work decreases if the support is not convincing, or not exciting.
- Organization: it is the construction of the paper in terms of paragraphs. This includes paragraph unity and development, logical progression of ideas, and the effectiveness of the introduction and conclusion.
- Style: this includes sentence structure, tone, and word choice. Clarity of diction and syntax is essential. Good writing usually employs varied sentence structures and vocabulary to maintain interest. The tone should be consistent and appropriate.
- Mechanics: it includes grammar, punctuation, spelling and correct application of appropriate conventions. Sloppy mechanics discredit a writer and distracts readers from the ideas presented in the writing.
The following criteria will be considered for any writing assessment in this course:
1. Outstanding Grade A/A-:
This is outstanding writing which reflects a perceptive and thoughtful response to the assignment. It is well organized with excellent development of its ideas and reflects the writer's command of appropriate rhetorical strategies. The prose is vigorous and fresh, and the writer is clearly in control of the standard conventions of English prose. There are no errors in the mechanics of writing
2. Very good Grade B/B-:
This is very good writing that fulfils the assignment and shows evidence of clear thought and good planning. It is well organized with good supporting details. The writing is fluent, and there are only minor errors in the mechanics of writing which do not detract from a reading of it.
3. Satisfactory Grade C/C-
This is satisfactory writing that fulfils the assignment and is adequately developed. The writing is clear and coherent with relatively few errors in usage and mechanics, but the writer fails to demonstrate any particular strength that would mark this writing above average.
4. Below Average Grade D/D-
This is below-average writing which fulfils the assignment but exhibits major problems in writing. It may have difficulty with the presentation of ideas (e.g., lack of clear thesis, weak organization, poor development of ideas, or incoherence), or it may reflect poor control of the conventions of standard English prose (e.g., poor use of idiom, inappropriate diction, poor spelling) or be marred by enough errors in the mechanics of writing to seriously distract the reader.
5. Unsatisfactory Grade F
This is writing that relates to the topic but is so poorly presented that it fails to fulfil the assignment. It fails to present its basic ideas, either because of poor organization and lack of clarity or because the writing reflects a lack of control over the basic conventions of standard English usage. There may be sentence boundary problems, poor use of idiom, inappropriate diction (words used incorrectly), agreement errors, or verb tense problems.
Please note the grades in letters for the in-class and out-class assignments are equivalent to the following numbers:
A : 10
A- : 9.5
B+ : 9
B : 8.5
B- :8
C+ : 7.5
C :7
C- : 6.5
D+: 6
D: 5.5
D-: 5
Below that is a failing grade (F)
Final Assessment Criteria:
A = 95-100 B = 83-86 C = 72-75
A- = 91-94 B- = 80-82 C- = 68-71
B+ = 86-90 C+ = 76-79 D+ = 65-68
D=63-66 D- =60-62
BELOW 60: FAIL