Grading Standards for Revised Work in ENG 121
A -----SUPERIOR
Work which uses an assignment as the occasion for a piece of writing compelling
enough to engage readers on its own terms. It presents an individual insight
or viewpoint with enough fullness and cogency to command readers' respect,
if not their assent. It complements its fresh thought by creating a distinctive
voice through aptly chosen words and through sentences both grammatically
accurate and rhetorically sophisticated.
B -----GOOD
Work which meets all an assignment's expectations with clear competence.
Usually lacking A work's fresh thought or approach or its compelling development,
B work nevertheless demonstrates its author's ability to respond intelligently
to an assignment's demands, to structure and focus writing clearly, to
select significant details and examples and to organize them effectively,
to choose words accurately, and to revise sentences for conciseness and
emphasis.
C -----FAIR
Work which is entirely adequate but not more, C work meets the assignment's
specifications, has a serviceable structure, and provides enough elaboration
with appropriate examples or analysis to make its intent understandable.
Its sentences are almost always grammatically correct and reasonably varied,
its paragraphs usually coherent. Nevertheless, C work lacks the sharp focus,
the full and purposeful development, or the stylistic awareness necessary
for a higher grade.
D -----POOR
Work which is clearly inadequate in at least one way. Although D work may
demonstrate competence in other facets, its strengths will be outweighed
by one or two pervasive weaknesses: failure to engage meaningfully an important
aspect of the writing task or to maintain a focus; skimpy or illogical
development; significant errors in grammar or persistent lack of subordination;
repeated distracting errors in mechanics or in idiom.
F -----FAILURE
Work which fails to respond acceptably to an assignment, F work may misunderstand
or disregard the assignment's intent, lack any pattern or organization,
or make enough errors in Standard English sentence structure to make it
difficult for a reader to follow the author's thought. While F will be
given for unsubmitted or uncompleted work, it should not be understood
solely as a penalty grade: it will be given to any work which fails to
meet an assignment's demands or to meet the minimum standards of college
discourse.
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