In this class, your learning is assessed through a portfolio, not through points or exams. A portfolio is a collection of your work that shows how your reading, writing, and thinking develop over time.

We use a grading contract, which is an agreement between you and the instructor about what work needs to be completed to earn a specific grade. Instead of earning points on individual assignments, you will receive a “complete” or “incomplete” for your work.

Your final grade is based on your effort, participation, and revision, not on how “perfect” your writing is the first time. Writing is a skill that develops through practice, feedback, reflection, and revision—so one test or one draft cannot fairly show your learning.

Throughout the semester, you will read, write, research, receive feedback, revise your work, and reflect on what you are learning. You will choose which pieces best represent your growth and include them in your Google Sites Literacy Portfolio, which becomes the basis for your final grade.

We will review the grading contract together, and I will guide you step by step through the portfolio process. No one is expected to know how to do this on day one.

This course uses a grading contract and portfolio assessment because this approach is:

• more fair than point-based grading

• more supportive of revision and growth

• designed to reduce stress and support learning

• focused on progress, not perfection

At the end of the semester, you will reflect on your portfolio and explain how it shows your learning and growth as a reader and writer. This means you are not graded on where you start—you are graded on how you engage with the work, revise your writing, and develop over time.

This approach is especially important for students taking a co-requisite course, where the goal is to build skills, confidence, and awareness. The grading contract is designed to support learning—not to penalize students for still learning.

Below is the Assessment Breakdown for English C1000 Academic Reading and Writing

Grading Procedures and Tips for Success!

• • 1. For each assignment, I recommend that you review the rubric before completing it and then again before submitting it to ensure you've addressed all the required criteria.

    2. You submit an assignment by the due date. (If you can't make a due date, contact me in advance so we can agree upon an extension.)

    3. I will review your submission against the rubric criteria and mark the assignment as Complete or Incomplete (with feedback) in the Grades area.

    4. If an assignment is incomplete, that simply means you aren't quite there yet (but you'll get there!). Just review my feedback, revise your work, and resubmit the assignment. I wish we could change the "Incomplete" language in Canvas to "Not Yet," but, unfortunately, that's not an option. I hope you will mentally apply "Not Yet" to your experience, should you receive an "Incomplete" for an assignment. :)

    5. If your work is submitted on time, I will make every effort to review and comment on the work within 72 hours. I also encourage you to schedule a conference call with me to discuss your revisions if you feel that is necessary.

    6. Finally, to help reduce stress and improve the likelihood of completing the assignments in our modules successfully:

-Allow yourself the time and space you need to do your best work.

-Don't procrastinate.

-If you get stuck on an assignment, reach out to me or one of your peers. I welcome your questions and I am happy to help you think through your ideas so you can successfully complete an assignment. 

• Ashley Finley, Senior Director of Assessment and Research for the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) and National Evaluator -- Bringing Theory to Practice, discusses the role of portfolios in assessing student learning. 

• Citation:  Center for Engaged Learning. (2015, January 14). Ashley Finley on the role of portfolios in assessments of student learning. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/....