Generally Accepted Grading Criteria for Written Work

A

B

C

D

F

General

Assessment

Criteria

The A assignment is characterized by maturity, insightfulness, or creativity in developing the central idea. A strong sense of purpose, a keen sense of audience, logical organization, and effective language are hallmarks of the A assignment. The A assignment demonstrates a clear and rigorous engagement with the assignment's thesis and its supporting examples. The assignment communicates the importance of its thesis to the work as a whole. In addition, the A assignment contains rhetorical sophistication and eloquence.

In general, the B assignment, while not as insightful as the A assignment, is above average. In comparison to the C assignment, it is further characterized by full development of ideas and precision of expression. The B assignment may also be flawed in expression or organization because the writer is struggling with the articulation and analysis of difficult ideas. The B assignment lacks the level of sophistication of thought that characterizes the A assignment

The C assignment contains a unified, coherent thesis. While the assignment may cover a particular topic adequately, it may fail to move beyond the generalities of the work. Although it may meet all of the general requirements of the assignment, it may lack the vigor of thought and expression that would distinguish it with above average rating. It may contain strong ideas that are inadequately expressed. It may lack the fluency, originality and inventiveness of an A or B assignment.

The D assignment is deficient in content, organization, style, and/or mechanics. Its sentences and ideas may be incoherent and or loosely connected. The D assignment indicates below average achievement in expressing ideas directly and carefully. With more careful proofreading and development, many D assignments would merit the grade of C.

The F assignment contains excessive weaknesses in content, organization, sentence structure, and/or mechanics. It may reflect poor or careless proofreading skills. The F assignment may reflect serious errors in interpretation or indicate a lack of engagement with the text(s) under examination. The F assignment may also fail to fulfill the assignment requirements or contain plagiarized material.

Purpose

The A assignment expresses its purpose with meticulous clarity and persuasiveness.

The B assignment expresses its purpose very clearly and persuasively.

The C assignment expresses its purpose with an adequate amount of clarity or persuasiveness.

The D assignment does not express its purpose clearly or persuasively.

The F assignment contains no clear purpose.

Audience

The A assignment is clearly directed toward the needs of a particular audience.

The B assignment is well directed toward the needs of a particular audience.

The C assignment is unsure of its audience.

The D assignment is oblivious of or incorrect in assuming its audience.

The F assignment does not acknowledge an audience.

Context/

Documentation

The A assignment provides adequate supporting arguments, evidence, examples and details. The A assignment correctly acknowledges and documents sources using MLA citation or a designated citation method.

The B assignment contains many, but not a sufficient number of supporting arguments, evidence, examples and details. The B assignment contains minor flaws in source documentation methods.

The C assignment contains some, but an insufficient number of supporting arguments, evidence, examples and details. The C assignment contains moderate to numerous errors in source documentation errors.

The D assignment contains minimal supporting arguments, evidence, examples and details. The D assignment contains major and/or numerous errors in source documentation methods.

The F assignment lacks supporting arguments, evidence, examples and details. It may contain blatantly plagiarized elements or may fail to utilize any sources, which constitutes automatic failure.

Organization

The A assignment is well organized and unified. It contains clear evidence of logic and of transitions between ideas.

The B assignment contains minor flaws in organization and coherence.

The C assignment contains many flaws in organization and coherence.

The D assignment contains major and frequent flaws in organization and coherence.

The F assignment is fraught with flaws in organization and coherence.

Mechanics

The A assignment is free to virtually free of errors in grammar, punctuation, word choice, spelling and format.

The B assignment contains minor grammar, punctuation, spelling, diction and formatting errors.

The C assignment contains many or substantial grammar, punctuation, spelling, diction and formatting errors.

The D assignment contains numerous grammar, punctuation, spelling, diction and formatting errors.

The F assignment is fraught with grammar, punctuation, spelling, diction and formatting errors.

Style/

Sophistication

The A assignment maintains a high level of engagement throughout and shows originality and creativity in realizing the aforementioned criteria

The B assignment maintains an above-average level of engagement throughout and shows moderate originality and creativity in realizing the aforementioned criteria.

The C assignment maintains an average level of engagement throughout and shows little originality and creativity in realizing the aforementioned criteria.

The D assignment maintains a below average level of engagement throughout and shows minimal originality and creativity in realizing the aforementioned criteria.

The F assignment reflects little to no engagement throughout and does not contain any originality or creativity in realizing the aforementioned criteria.