Grading

Grade definitions Grading system Cheating Missing or late work

What is an A? a B? a C?

Grades are not based on effort. Instead, they are based on actual performance. (When you choose a doctor or an auto mechanic, you don't care if they tried hard when they were in school. You care whether they know what they are doing.)

A	A grade of "A" means that the work is judged to be of exceptionally high quality, going well beyond what is needed to be minimally acceptable. "A" level work shows originality, depth of thought, factual accuracy, good logic.
B	A grade of "B" means that the work is judged to be of high quality, going well beyond what is needed to be minimally acceptable. "B" level work shows some of the same good qualities as "A" level work, but not as consistently, or to the same extent. (Maybe lacks originality, and is less deep, although accurate and logical as far as it goes, for example.)
C	A grade of "C" means that the work is acceptable--that is, it meets the basic standard of college level work in terms of relevance, factual accuracy, and logic. "C-" work is at the the minimum acceptable level.
D	A grade of "D" means that the work does not meet the standards for acceptable college level work, but it does exhibit some positive qualities that indicate that it deserves some credit for having been done.
F	A grade of "F" means that the work is so weak that it does not earn college level credit, or the work was not completed at all.

General description of the grading system

The overall course grade is based on points earned for written work:

Three written thought projects, each about six pages in length.
Essay examinations written outside of class -- there will be two of these.
Written answers to study questions, quizzes, and other similar short projects. These will occur very frequently.

The difference between an examination and a thought project is that in a project students launch out more on their own, to produce an original analysis or argument, while the examinations are more a matter of summarizing, synthesizing, and analyzing the readings and class discussions.

Study questions and similar short projects will usually simply be graded as satisfactory or not, except for unusual cases in which extra credit is given to an outstanding job, or partial credit is given for a particularly weak response. Occasionally, some short projects might be worth a bit more than usual and graded more selectively.

The overall final course grade will be determined as follows:

Each longer thought project will count for 15 points.
Each examination will count for 20 points.
The study questions, quizzes, and other short projects will in combination count for 20 points.

Total points possible then = 105. It is not possible to predict exactly how many items there will be in category (3). So, each one will be awarded temporary points individually based on quality of performance. For example, each study question set that is turned in will normally be worth one temporary point. The resulting number of temporary points possible on all these items by the end of the term will be greater than 20. The temporary points will be converted into real points by prorating at the end of the term. For example, if there are 30 temporary points possible on all study questions, quizzes, and so forth, then each temporary point turns out to be worth two-thirds of a real point, so that 30 temporary points will be converted into 20 real points.

Final grades will be based on the total points earned, using a scale no higher than this one:

A	90.5 points
B	69.5 points
C	48.5 points
D	32.5 points

This may look like a very lenient scale. It actually is not lenient, because it will be easy to lose points on the essays and exams, or to lose points by not doing a satisfactory job on the smaller projects. A much better sense of what it takes for a high grade can be obtained by reading the grade definitions given at the top of this page. (A grading scale that only required 50% of the possible points for a grade of B, for example, would not be lenient if it were nearly impossible for anyone to actually receive 50% of the points.)

Plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty can nullify the entire grading system described above, for students involved. Such cases will be dealt with in accord with university policy, and can easily result in a student's failing the entire course, or even being dismissed from the university.

Policies about missing or late course work

Quizzes or other projects written in class must be turned in during the relevant class. No make-ups are allowed for any reason, except for students who are absent because they are required to attend a previously scheduled and approved officially-sanctioned university event, and who have previously notified the instructor that they will be absent for that reason. Students who do not make arrangements in advance are out of luck. There may be a number of quizzes that fall into this category. There may be some alternative projects a student can complete in order to make up for missed points due to illness. Ask, if this affects you.

All written items for credit each come with a deadline, posted on a Schedule page. After the deadline they are not routinely accepted for credit. (Written projects are intended to support student learning as the class progresses, and are tied to current class activities. It often makes little educational sense to try to do them three weeks late. In the event of a serious need for a student to be absent for an extended period, special arrangements will have to be worked out, if possible.)

Unless a student obtains permission to turn in the work late, items will not be accepted after the due date. To get permission to be late, the student needs to have a good reason, and to make definite arrangements with the instructor.

Students who have a documentable disability that requires a special accommodation in this course must contact the Disability Concerns office to make arrangements for an accommodation.

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