Grading Policies

A The essay is inspired, extremely well-written and eloquent. There is an original development of the topic and a strong, sophisticated thesis of your own. Alternative viewpoints and arguments are acknowledged and countered effectively. Textual evidence is used extremely well to support your points. The essay develops your thesis in a coherent and cogent way. The essay is engaging from start to finish. There are no grammatical errors or typos.

A/B The essay has a strong thesis, is well-written, and uses textual evidence, but the paper is not as well-written or original as it could be. Alternative viewpoints and arguments are acknowledged and countered with some effectiveness. Textual evidence is used well to support your points. There are no grammatical errors or typos.

B A good topic and a fairly strong thesis, and the paper is reasonably well-written. Textual evidence is used. Alternative viewpoints and arguments are not countered or engaged well. The close readings of the texts and or films could be more precise and close, and more original. There are no grammatical errors or typos.

B/C There is a good topic, but it is hazily defined. And the thesis is weak and hazily articulated. Little textual evidence is used to defend your argument, the argument is derivative, and it is not developed cogently or coherently. Alternative arguments and viewpoints are not engaged. The paper is overly dependent on class discussion. There are no grammatical errors, perhaps a few typos.

C Perfunctory attempt to define a topic and thesis, and the paper is largely derivative from class discussion. No textual evidence is used or the evidence is unoriginal and / or is used poorly. The prose is inarticulate. Alernative arguments are not engaged. There are grammatical errors and typos.

D No clear topic, no clear thesis, no use of textual evidence. Ungrammatical prose is used and typos may abound. The essay reads like an incoherent draft.

F No attempt to define a topic or thesis. Ungrammatical prose. Profuse typos. Or plagiarized work (in part or in whole).

Note: It is fine to draw on class discussion in your papers. The point is to develop any material you incorporate so that you make it your own.