Grading Rubric
A-- The introduction explodes with vivid originality and uses one of the techniques that we talked about in class. The writer has chosen a very original topic or has taken a fresh perspective on an already much discussed issue or common experience. Distinct voice. Paragraphs are well-developed and have clear and specific topic sentences and do not stray from them.. Good transitions. An A paper complicates the text, experience, or issue at hand and does not reduce it to common wisdom or banality. In other words, the paper takes a different approach to a typical or not so typical experience. In the case of an analysis, there is a strong, original, and identifiable thesis. The paper is relatively free of mechanical errors, which are slight. There is excellent detail and a tight focus. The paper uses original word choice and does not make sweeping statements, offer broad summaries, or give meaningless abstractions. No cliches. The narration is unique and displays a definite voice. The paper flows. The conclusion does a good job of tying up the paper or its events and perhaps pointing in a new direction but does not merely restate or bring up new issues. The writer enlightens me about something or offers me a perspective I had not thought about before reading the paper. I do not feel that this is just a retelling of a story or a position that we have seen many times in the movies or on television. I see much evidence of revision from first draft to final draft. Every sentence serves a purpose. Lots of showing and no telling.
B--The introduction is interesting. The paper fulfills the assignment. Some detail, good analysis if needed, relevant examples if needed. The paper is fairly focused and seems strong. There are some rough spots or filler. The paper has a sense of structure, but does not demonstrate superior organization. Transitions are okay. A voice is either present or beginning to emerge. There are some awkward sentences, but these are few and far between. I seem some revision from draft to draft. If the paper needs a thesis, there is one but it could be better. The focus isn't too broad, but it could be narrower. The paper be trying to talk about too many ideas, too many people, too much time, and/or too many events. The paper is short. The paper shows and tells.
C-- The paper minimally fulfills the assignment. There is an introduction but it is fairly flat or begins with the thesis, which is unoriginal and perhaps too broad. There may be no thesis. There is little detail, little analysis if needed, and few to no examples if needed. Significant portions of the paper seem to be filler or just read flatly. The transitional sentences are weak or nonexistent. There is a conclusion, but it does little more than restate the issue or rework the introduction, or the paper lacks a solid conclusion and ends abruptly as if the writer just suddenly reached the minimum page limit and stopped writing. The paper seems too broad and brings in meaningless examples. I understand the basic story and what is going on, but there's little beyond that and the paper seems more like a summary. Too much telling and not enough showing. The paper author demonstrates an acceptable command of the English language and competent but not expert writing. Cliches dominate the paper. I see the same limited word choice over and over. The premise of the paper and the way that the paper handles that premise are unoriginal; it's like watching a made for TV movie. I have to really hunt to find evidence of revision from draft to draft.
D/F-- This paper does not fulfill the assignment. It is too far from the topic. The paper is too short (25% or more of the essay is missing). There are serious recurring errors (sentences that require question marks are instead given periods. There are comma splices and fragments). The level of writing is poor. Paragraphs are short and choppy. The reflection and/or analysis is superficial at best. There is no detail. The paper seems thrown together and written at the last minute. There has obviously been no proofreading. Parts of the paper seem unrelated to the topic. There seems to be no conclusion. The paper is around half to two thirds of the required length. Mechanical errors interfere to such a degree that I cannot tell what the writer is saying. Little of the paper relates to the actual assignment. The horror! The horror!
Deductions (for purposes of convenience, let's assume each paper counts a hundred points):
Something other than 12pt. Times New Roman double spaced: -10
Less than then the required length:-10 minimum
Wrong heading, no heading, no headers, or something else is wrong with the headers:-5
The text is not left-justified -10
The title is bland and common, a summary of what the paper is about, or something strange is going on with the title (i.e., it's in bold, it's underlined, and so forth)-5
Each time I see one of these things, it's three points off:
Incorrect or missing end punctuation. Obvious verb tense errors ("we is running"). Run-ons, fragments, and comma splices.
I should see two first draft copies of the first two papers workshopped by students. Each Missing or unacceptable draft (for example, it is too short) –10.
Each missing process memo: -10