PHIL3375 SUMMER 2005

GRADING CRITERIA

 There are 100 points available for evaluation purposes.

They are allocated as follows:

Class Participation

            Group Presentation Participation                  24 Points

            Constructive Critiques                                   16 Points

 

Midterm Exam                                                           25 Points

 

Final Term Paper  or Final Exam (At

Student Option)                                                          35 Points

 

 

Group Presentations will stress evidence of good research, and a good faith effort to collaborate with the group to produce an interesting and informative presentation of the topic and sub-topics.  None of you are expected to be actors or professional speakers.  If you demonstrate that you have made the effort to research and present your share of the work you will receive credit for the entire 24 points.  Some of you will be better presenters than others, and I will note those who show the higher skills.  Such observations may contribute to a next higher grade if one happens to be on the margin.  For example, if the raw score for all work would indicate an A minus for the course, but the class presentation was superlative, I would nudge the grade up a notch into an A.  Contrariwise, if a presenter happens to be someone with less natural skill in that area, but still tried to give best effort, he or she will not be penalized, but will earn the full 24 points.

 

Critiques (worth 2points each) will not be harshly graded, either.  If you turn in a critique which makes constructive observations and gives evidence of attendance and critical listening and thinking about the presenters work, you will get full credit.  Here again, some people are more skilled than others in this sort of thing and the same principles outlined above will apply.

 

Term papers/and or final exams are rigorously graded.  The points are allocated as follows:

Issue identification, description and analysis                       10 points

Argument, giving good reasons for conclusions reached 9 points

Rhetoric, writing style, diction                                              7 points

Elements of style (preparation of paper in accordance

With MLA, or any other widely accepted handbook           6 points

Punctuation and spelling                                                        3 Points

Total*                                                                                     35 Points

*For those electing the final exam, points allocable to each question are stated at the beginning of each.