History/4-5 pages/8% Plagiarism/Book Chapter Summary/The Struggle for Freedom/Clayborne Carson

a. Grammar;

b. Knowledge/understanding as reflected in the essay, and

c. Content [overall, presentation, extent to which the essay follows the guidelines..].

Each of these areas are worth 33.3%. Generally, in my comments, there are five terms that I regularly employ:

a. "Challenged" means the student is not following guidelines and/or not meeting minimum requirements in one or more of the three areas listed above.  This level generally means below average work--"D-" to "F" work.

b.  "Acceptable" means the student has met the minimum requirements.  This level

generally means passing level. C-//D+

b. "Respectable" means the student has met the nominal requirements. This level generally means average work-- "C"// "C+" to low "B-" work.

d. "Largely Sound" means the student has provided above average work, but that minor improvement in some areas is needed. This level generally means solid "B" to "B+" work.

e. "Sound" means the student has provided exceptional work; while there is a range for "sound" and essays can always be improved, this level basically means the essay is "A" work or close to "A" work.

While grading essays focusing on historical interpretation is extremely subjective work, the above represent the criteria I employ while evaluating your work. Hope this provides you some understanding of the evaluation process?