Now that you have turned in your first essay, it is time to
discuss essay grading. Unlike math and the sciences that are objective with
specific answers most of the time, essay writing is subjective, based on
someone's opinion of your writing. Yet grading essays does require criteria and
standards that students must follow and that teachers will apply when they
grade student writing. Here then are the criteria for your essays in this
class:
D: The essay demonstrates little effort to follow the
requirements of the assignment or to produce a good essay. It will have a
poorly stated thesis or no thesis. The essay will have multiple grammar and
sentence errors including run-ons, fragments, and comma splices; it will not
have been edited or proofread. It may be written in first (I) or even second
person (you), and lacks a sense of audience. It will lack in style with little
effort to vary sentence structure, develop ideas, or demonstrate critical
thinking. Students who write the D essay will often admit to writing it late
the night before it was due with little or no effort to produce quality
writing. It fails in several areas: content, critical thinking, organization,
and is not submitted in proper MLA format.
C: The essay meets the requirements of the assignment; it will
have structure, show some thought, but it will be uninspired, lack depth, and originality.
The thesis demonstrates that the writer has put some thought into developing a
main idea, but has difficulty developing it. The writer does address an audience
and avoids second person. The essay will have grammar, punctuation, spelling,
and sentence errors, and would benefit from more careful editing and
proofreading. The essay follows proper MLA format.
B: This essay shows effort, originality, and certain maturity
in thought and manner in which ideas are developed. The writer has provided
ample evidence to support and develop the thesis. Ideas will be developed and
well thought-out, and demonstrate a high degree of critical thinking. The writer demonstrates a strong sense of
audience and addresses that audience in the 3rd person plural (they). There
will be minimal grammar, punctuation and sentence errors, demonstrating effort
and an awareness of good writing. The essay meets all of the requirements of the
assignment, and is submitted in proper MLA format.
A: This essay demonstrates an extraordinary insight in the
thought process, with ample support and evidence combined with synthesis of
ideas that demonstrates sophistication in thought and critical thinking. The
essay demonstrates original thought with a uniqueness that captures the reader's
interest and respect for the piece. This writer not only addresses a specific audience
but also demonstrates certain empathy for the audience. It has only minor punctuation
errors; sentence structure demonstrates skillful editing along with a sound,
even sophisticated style of writing. The
essay meticulously follows MLA format with no formatting errors and has a
professional, polished appearance.
Grading Scale:
100-90 A 50-45 90% A
89-80 B 44-40 80% B
79-70 C 39-35 70% C
69-60 D
Failing essays will not receive an F; instead, they will
receive an R, which stands for "Rewrite." Students will be given an
opportunity to rewrite the essay for a better grade but only after they have held
a conference with me to discussion revision. All students are welcome to meet
with me after their graded essays have been returned to discuss their grade but
only to clarify the grade, not to rewrite for a better grade.
Near the end of the semester, students often come to my
office to explain why they have not attended class and/or turned in their work,
wanting some sort of special favor to hand in late work. Only in rare cases do I
extend such favors especially for students who have missed class, not
participated in class, and who have demonstrated that they are putting forth
little effort. I always explain to them that to give them special favors is not
fair to the students who come to class every day, participate, and do their
work to the best of their ability. So if
students find themselves in trouble, it is wise to come talk to me before their
situation is irreversible.
Students also will let me know (or even demand) that they must
receive an A in English 122 in order to be accepted into their chosen degree
program. I let them know that an A does not come easily in any course, for it
requires extraordinary work ethic, talent, desire, and academic excellence at
the highest level. Announcing that one
needs a certain grade does not guarantee that grade.
Students are always welcome in my office to discuss their
writing and their grades.
(Note: This grading policy is solely my policy and does not
reflect the grading polices of other university instructors or professors.)
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