government

What is the Meaning of a Grade?

The following should help you understand why you earned the grade that you did on a paper for this course. The requirements mentioned are not given a specific weight and any one of them may influence your overall grade on the paper. In other words, it is up to the discretion of the professor to determine how much any given requirement affects your overall paper. Please note that other factors may have also influenced the grade you earned.

A (90-100): Excellent- You have met all of the requirements specified on the paper prompt (length, formatting, etc.). You show a firm grasp of the topic and subject with a depth of thought and analysis that exceeds expectations for the course. In other words, your paper shows an understanding of the topic that extends far beyond what has been discussed in class. You have taken the time to read the assignments and meditate on their significance. The overall structure and organization of your paper is clear and reveals the thoughtful and logical progression of your argument. There are no or very few grammatical mistakes. Your writing style is clear and refined. Your use of quotations/citations is seamlessly woven into your paper.

B (80-89): Good- You have met all of the requirements specified on the paper prompt (length, formatting, etc.). You show a good grasp of the topic and subject. In other words, your paper shows that you have been paying attention in class and understand the assigned reading. There are few or no grammatical errors. Your writing style is clear. The structure and organization of your paper reveals consistency throughout your argument. Your use of quotations/citations supports your argument.

C (70-79): Acceptable- You have met all of the requirements specified on the paper prompt (length, formatting, etc.). Your understanding of the topic and subject shows that you are at least familiar with the concepts we have discussed in class. There are some grammatical errors. Your writing style sometimes impedes a clear understanding of your argument. The structure and organization of your paper is usually clear but leaves gaps in your arguments or leads to inconsistencies and confusion about your overall argument. Your use of quotations/citations usually supports your argument but, at times, may be out of place or unrelated to your argument.

D (60-69); Poor- You have not met all of the requirements specified on the paper prompt (length, formatting, etc.). You do not exhibit a firm grasp of the topics as they have been discussed in class but you have made an attempt to discuss the topic. Your writing style greatly impedes an understanding of your argument. Your use of grammar does not reflect a college-level paper. There are major issues with the structure and organization of your paper (like paragraph formatting) that severely hurt your overall argument. Your use of quotations/citations does not typically relate to your overall argument.

F (<59): Unacceptable- You have not met all of the requirements specified on the paper prompt (length, formatting, etc.). You do not exhibit a grasp of the topics as they have been discussed in class and your paper does not reflect a serious attempt to discuss the topic/subject. Your writing style is unintelligible/incoherent. Your use of grammar is unacceptable at the college level. There is no discernable organization or structure with your paper. Your use of quotations/citations does not relate to your overall argument