Grading guidelines
A -- Excellent
Work that uses the assignment as an occasion for a piece of writing
compelling enough to engage readers on its own terms. An A paper
presents an individual insight or viewpoint with enough fullness and cogency
to command readers' respect, if not their assent. It complements
its fresh thought by creating a distinctive voice through aptly chosen
words and through sentences both grammatically accurate and rhetorically
sophisticated.
In short, an A paper:
--develops complicated ideas flexibly and fluently,
yet with control and purpose
--is concerned with subtleties of expression as
well as with precise communication
--shows desire and willingness to be inventive with
structure and phrasing
B -- Very Good
Work that meets all an assignment's expectations with clear competence.
Usually lacking A work's compelling approach or development, B work nevertheless
demonstrates its author's ability to respond intelligently to an assignment's
demands, to structure and focus writing clearly, to select significant
details and examples and to organize them effectively, to choose words
accurately, and to revise sentences for conciseness and emphasis.
In short, a B paper:
--includes clear thesis, organization, and continuity
--gives evidence of independent thought; offers
an illuminating insight
--shows mature use of writing strategies to create
concise, clear, and varied prose
C -- Satisfactory
Work that is adequate but not more. C work usually meets most
of the assignment's specifications, has a serviceable structure, and provides
enough elaboration to make its intent understandable. Nevertheless,
a C paper typically lacks the sharp focus, the full and purposeful development,
or the stylistic awareness necessary for a higher grade. C work also
often has repeated and distracting errors in grammar, mechanics, or idiom.
In short, a C paper:
--may have a weak or fuzzy thesis, with illogical
or unclear arguments to support it
--may remain very general, relying more on summary
or repetition than analysis
--may depend on clichés or colloquialisms,
or have a limited stylistic range