Grading Policy

Grading will be based on a ten point scale.  (Sixty per cent is the lowest passing grade.)

In-class examinations will be graded on the skill with which the student addresses the theme of the question as posed.  In addition, assessment will be made of the relevance, correctness and thoroughness of the factual detail presented in support of the theme.  Spelling and grammatical errors may be noted, but will not affect the grade.

Out-of-Class written assignments will be graded on the strength, clarity and focus of the paper's theme.  The logic and thoroughness of the argument will also be taken into consideration, as well as grammar and prose style.


Tips for effective writing (make these second nature)


Grammar:

  • Spell correctly (period)
  • use complete sentences
  • do not split infinitives
  • do not begin with conjunctions
  • do not end with prepositions
  • avoid “might could”
  • avoid  “I feel like that”
  • avoid contradictions
  • maintain consistency of tense
  • (for history, stick primarily to simple past
  • maintain agreement in numbers
  • avoid use of second person
  • avoid using conditional to mean “occasionally”
  • avoid redundancy
  • avoid misplaced modifiers
  • establish clear antecedents for pronouns
  • take care with use of commas, semicolons and colons
  • do not use and/or (use or)
  • Gerunds

Style:

  • Avoid hyperbole
  • Avoid passive constructions
  • Maintain parallels
  • Avoid clichés, colloquialisms, too many figures of speech
  • Strive for precision of expression
  • Guard against making unprovable claims
  • Avoid inference, especially by putting ordinary words into quotation marks
  • Avoid judgmental words and phrases (frequently adjectives avoid use of the verb “to be”)
  • avoid vague terms (great, interesting, …)
  • Do not use nouns as verbs (impact…)
  • Theme statement must encapsulate argument
  • Avoid melodramatic or bombastic prose style
  • Avoid anachronism
  • Avoid non-sequitirs
  • Avoid over writing
  • Hyphen two words to create an adjective

Watch for:

  • Led/lead
  • Their/there/they’re
  • Its/it’s
  • Who/whom (whose)
  • Lay/lie
  • Various/different
  • Much/many
  • Affect/effect
  • Less/few
  • Lend/loan
  • Lose/loose
  • That/which
  • Merely/simply/just (avoid just)
  • whether or not
  • italicize or underline book titles/ships

Miscellaneous:

  • Avoid using encyclopedias as a Reference
  • Paginate 

 

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