1. Paper #1
2. Paper #2
3. Project proposal/analysis
4. Final Exam
* * * * *
Area One Grading Guidelines — 2005–2006
These guidelines, written by the IHUM Coordinating Committee and approved by the Area One Governance Board, govern all courses offered in satisfaction of the Area One Requirement. All instructors in Area One courses are required to use and enforce these guidelines. They are intended to promote and maintain consistency in grading across a diverse range of courses. Because all Area One courses evaluate students on the basis of performance on argumentative papers and participation in discussion, the two parts of the guidelines are directed toward these areas.
Argumentative Papers
Area One courses are mandated to foster rigorous inquiry and critical thinking, and to promote effective written argumentation. These guidelines govern the evaluation of argumentative papers generally, but they do not take into account specific disciplinary requirements, which may be added by individual courses.
A range: This paper is outstanding in form and content. The thesis is clear and insightful; it is original, or it expands in a new way on ideas presented in the course. The evidence presented in support of the argument is carefully chosen and deftly handled. The argument is not only unified and coherent, but also complex and nuanced.
B range: This paper's thesis is clear; the argument is coherent and presents evidence in support of its points. The argument shows comprehension of the material and manifests critical thinking about the issues raised in the course. The paper is reasonably well written and proofread. The argument, while coherent, does not have the complexity, the insight, or the integrated structure of an A range paper.
C range: This paper has some but not all of the basic components of an argumentative essay (i.e., thesis, evidence, coherent structure): for example, it may offer a thesis of some kind, but it presents no evidence to support this thesis; or it may present an incoherent thesis; or it may simply repeat points made in class without an overall argument. Such a paper is usually poorly organized, written and proofread. A paper will fall below a "C" if it lacks more than one of the basic components of an argumentative essay.
Section Participation
Participation in discussion should be evaluated on the following guidelines, which stress the quality rather than the mere quantity of contributions to discussion.
A range: The student is fully engaged and highly motivated. This student is well prepared, having read the assigned texts, and has thought carefully about the texts’ relation to issues raised in lecture and section. This student's ideas and questions are substantive (either constructive or critical); they stimulate class discussions. This student listens and responds to the contributions of other students.
B range: The student participates consistently in discussion. This student comes to section well prepared and contributes quite regularly by sharing thoughts and questions that show insight and a familiarity with the material. This student refers to the materials discussed in lecture and shows interest in other students' contributions.
C range: The student meets the basic requirements of section participation. This student is usually prepared and participates once in a while but not regularly. This student's contributions relate to the texts and the lectures and offer a few insightful ideas, but do not facilitate a discussion. (Failure to fulfill satisfactorily any of these criteria will result in a grade of "D" or below.)
