Your final grade for each formal assignment will be based on an impression of each of the different areas, which will be weighted differently according to what we have focused on most in class.

1. PROCESS
Excellent (A)
Every process assignment turned in on time, with care and attention. The final paper successfully builds on work done at earlier stages. The writer has revised extensively from drafts and sought help where it was needed.

Good (B)
Every process assignment turned in on time. The final paper makes an effort to build on work done at earlier stages. The writer has revised from the initial drafts and sought help where needed.

Needs work (C)
Most process assignments turned in on time. Some revision from drafts, but some feedback was ignored or the writer did not seek help when it was suggested.

Unacceptable (D)
Process assignments not all turned in or turned in late. The final paper looks much like the unrevised draft.

Fail (F)
No process assignments turned in.

2. IDEAS
Excellent (A)
The writer’s ideas are original and complex. The paper responds insightfully to the question, showing that the writer has thought deeply and carefully about the issues.

Good (B)
The writer’s ideas are original but may be fairly simple. The paper answers the question posed in the assignment.

Needs work (C)
The writer’s ideas are simplistic and derivative, or may be somewhat difficult to understand. The paper responds to the question posed in the assignment but fails to answer it meaningfully.

Unacceptable (D)
The writer’s ideas are obvious, poorly thought through, or difficult to determine. The paper addresses the topic of the assignment in a general way but does not answer the question directly.

Fail (F)
The writer’s ideas are so garbled as to be incomprehensible. The paper does not address the topic of the assignment at all.

3. EVIDENCE
Excellent (A)
Every claim is well backed up with support relevant to the topic of the assignment. The writer clearly and convincingly explains why the evidence supports the claim. All quotations and citations are attributed in a consistent style.

Good (B)
Support is offered for every claim, and is almost always relevant to the topic of the assignment. The writer makes an effort to explain why the evidence supports the claim. Quotations and citations are attributed.

Needs work (C)
Adequate support is offered for most claims, but it is often not relevant to the topic of the assignment and/or the writer does not explain why the evidence supports the claim. There may be some errors in attribution of quotations and citations.

Unacceptable (D)
Claims are unsupported or the support that is offered is irrelevant. Quotations and citations are not attributed correctly.

Fail (F)
No support is offered at all, or it is impossible to tell what claims are being made. Quotations are unattributed.

4. ARGUMENT
Excellent (A)
The paper has a clear main point, expressed in a succinct and cogent thesis statement. The argument flows throughout the paper, with each stage clearly signposted.

Good (B)
The paper has a main point expressed in a thesis statement. Topic sentences highlight the argument’s continuation through the paper.

Needs work (C)
The paper has a main point but it may not be clear from a thesis statement. There may be some topic sentences, but the argument is not continued evenly through the paper.

Unacceptable (D)
The paper has a general direction but no clear main point or development of argument.

Fail (F)
The paper has no focused topic at all.

5. ORGANIZATION
Excellent (A)
The paper has a coherent structure that is easy to follow. Logical transitions lead from one paragraph to the next, building toward a conclusion.

Good (B)
The paper has a clear structure, with points organized into paragraphs and a flow from introduction to conclusion.

Needs work (C)
There is a general shape to the paper, but paragraphs are not clearly organized. Transitions between ideas are abrupt and/or confusing.

Unacceptable (D)
The paper’s logic is highly unclear, with ideas barely organized into paragraphs at all.

Fail (F)
The paper has no clear structure.

6. READABILITY
Excellent (A)
The paper is easy to understand and pleasurable to read. Sentence structure is varied, there are few to no grammatical errors, and paragraphs are well shaped. Tone of voice is academic yet elegant.

Good (B)
The paper is easy to understand. Sentences and paragraphs are of an appropriate length and any grammatical errors are not distracting. Tone of voice is academic.

Needs work (C)
Awkward diction, typos, or grammatical errors make the paper occasionally difficult to understand. Sentences may be choppy and short or excessively long. Paragraphs may extend over multiple pages or cover only a line or two. Tone of voice may be too informal.

Unacceptable (D)
Awkward diction, typos, or grammatical errors make the paper continually difficult to understand. Sentences and paragraphs are not formed properly. Tone of voice may be informal or inappropriate.

Fail (F)
Writing is impossible to understand.