Grading Policies & FAQ's
Grading Policies At-A-Glance
Here's the gist of it: The grades for each quarter and semester will be determined on the basis of a weighted system, with Formative Assessments counting for 30% of their overall grade, and Summative Assessments counting for 70% of their overall grade. All tests, quizzes, papers, homework assignments, and class assignments will be given a specific amount of points according to their value and difficulty. Failure to follow the instructions for any given assignment will adversely affect your grade!
WEIGHING GRADING POLICY
Marian Central Standard Grading Scale
Grade Number Equivalent
A 95-100
A- 93-94
B+ 91-92
B 87-90
B- 85-86
C+ 83-84
C 79-82
C- 77-78
D+ 75-76
D 72-74
D- 70-71
F Below 70
Completion Exercises (study guide questions)
I award two points per question and do a quick check for complete sentences worthy of the 2 pts. If an answer is blank, they earn no points. If the answer is not a complete sentence or is perhaps not completely related to the question, I can at least offer partial credit for the answer. These average about 20-30 pts per literary piece.
Graded Homework (vocab or grammar units)
Usually, average around 30-45 pts per assignment and are graded in class.
Quizzes (vocab, grammar, literature)
Usually average around 30 pts per quiz
WRITING - see the "Writing Center" for details, rubrics, & resources!
EXAMS - During the quarter, I give only quizzes. Quarter exams are usually 100-120 points.
I always make sure the "DUE DATE" listed on the weekly schedule (calendar on ENG III Tab) is the date I enter into the gradebook. That way, you can easily cross-reference the two. I also write a detailed description of each assignment - and let you know if it was checked in for completion or graded for accuracy. I try to create a good balance between all assessments. I DO NOT WEIGH MY GRADES. That way, if a student has a bad quiz or paper, it doesn't destroy the quarter grade.
Extra Help:
No one ever wants to fail a test or class. I certainly don’t want you to, either! Please see me or email me as soon as you feel yourself falling behind or in need of additional help on anything! Students who have studied with me in the past have really improved their test scores and have become much more confident in class. You need to ask for the help, though! I hope you will come in for help, but I can’t chase you down and force you. I want every one of my students to succeed!
Marian Central Academic Integrity Policy:
One of the important aspects of classroom procedures is the integrity of each student's own work. Dishonesty, cheating, and plagiarism may include, but are not limited to – misrepresenting the truth, forging or falsifying school documents, accessing restricted files/information, academic dishonesty including inappropriate use of the internet or information found on the internet, or any other action intended to obtain credit for work not one’s own. If a student is found cheating, assisting another on a test or assignment, or otherwise engaging in dishonest activities including plagiarism, he/she will receive an "F" (0% or 0 points) for that work and a Saturday detention will be assigned. When such a situation arises, the teacher will notify the student's parents and will inform them of the actions taken.
Plagiarism:
Completing your own work is also a sign of respect. Cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student involved in either of these will receive a zero for the assignment and will be held accountable for disciplinary consequences outlined in the student handbook. Turnitin.com will be utilized for plagiarism prevention so all students will be required to create/update their account information.
Grading FAQs
1. How often do you update grades?
I generally update once a week (usually by Monday night.) Sometimes sooner, depending on my workload. If you have late/absent work that you've turned in during the week, sit tight and give me the weekend. If Tuesday rolls around and you still don't see the grade-change, please shoot me an email or Edmodo message!
2. What is your absent and late policy?
All late or absent work must be turned in with a GRADE DISCREPANCY FORM!
-ABSENT work receives full credit potential, you have a number of days absent to make up your ABSENT WORK (ex. 3 days absent=3 days to make it up). You may think you have all the time in the world to get your absent work in, and this may sound very generous - but please be advised: I enter in absent work as "0-ab" and your grade is affected within a week of the absence. I do this to give you the tools to best manage your workloads. If, say, you have absent work due me but still, have an A in the class - even with the absent work, you may then choose to tackle another class where your absence has caused your grade to dip.
-LATE work is entered in as a "0" until you turn it in. Once you do turn it in, you receive 50% of the potential grade. Like with absent work, you may turn in late work a week after the initial due date - but it's 50% when you do, afterwards, it remains a 0 for the quarter.
-CHEATING: (while we're discussing consequences..) You receive a "o-CHEAT" and most likely, a detention per our handbook. Also - it appears in the gradebook, and you will need to explain to your parents what it means. You will not be able to earn any of these points back.
3. I have a "0-ab" entered for an assignment - what is this?
That means that you were absent when that assignment was due. You will receive FULL CREDIT POTENTIAL when you turn in the absent work. I enter it in with a "0" so that you know immediately that you have an assignment missing. Since I usually update grades over the weekend/Monday nights - your absence(s) from the prior week will be a part of the grade updates. I used to just put "AB" in the gradebook for absent work - but since it does not impact the grade, students forgot about turning in their absent work. When I would convert the AB to a "0" at the end of the quarter, the grade would significantly drop and it became a huge shock and panic. By entering "0-ab" within a week of the absence, you know exactly where your grade stands. ONCE YOU TURN IN ABSENT WORK, you will receive full-credit potential. I will still add the extension "-ab" after - just so we can track your performance. So, for example, your "0-ab" will then turn into a "28-ab" for a 30 pt quiz.
EXCEPTIONS - If you have an extended illness that has been documented through Guidance or a loss in your family - please know I will work with you to make sure you have time to recover and regroup. For these situations, I will enter grades in as simply "ab" until we have determined that you're ready to get back to work. The key is to communicate with me and keep me in the loop. YOU MATTER MORE THAN THE GRADE and I will always support honest students.
4. I turned in my paper on time, so why does the gradebook have the entry "CMP" instead of a grade?
To start - this does not hurt or help your grade. Your grade is only affected when I enter a number. When I receive a pile of papers in, I immediately go through and make sure your paper is there. When you see the "CMP" in the gradebook, that simply means YES! I received your paper...but I haven't graded it yet. Once I grade the papers in your class, I will replace the "CMP" with your actual grade.
5. I think you made a mistake when entering my grade - what do I do?
Don't panic! Don't get angry! It happens. By the end of the quarter, there are so many assignments, columns, tiny numbers, etc. on my screen that it's almost a certainty that I may mess something up! Please grab a GRADE DISCREPANCY SHEET , fill it out and (if applicable) attach the homework in question. For this reason - do not throw out returned assignments until after the quarter exams. Every quarter, I have a set deadline for all absent work (usually the Friday prior to exam week) THIS IS ALSO THE DEADLINE to request a review of an existing grade. There comes a point where I have to say "speak now or forever hold your peace!" I do conduct an audit of my gradebook (comparing online with my hard-copy) but I rely on you to be your own advocate.
6. Can I just verbally remind you of a grade-change?
Frankly - I wouldn't if I were you. I would create some sort of written documentation. In the course of a day, I interact with over 100 students. If you remind me of something in the hallway, chances are I will have had three other students and a few teachers ask me other questions by the time I get back to my desk to write myself a post-it note. Do you want to take that chance? You may call this "getting old" - just read this to your parents...they'll get it. Write up a Grade Discrepancy Sheet, send me an email, or use Edmodo to send me a message.
7. Do you offer extra credit?
Opportunities usually are presented for extra credit. For example - at the beginning of the year, I award 5 pts extra credit if you bring in a box of tissues or antibacterial wipes or a bottle of hand-sanitizer. I usually average about 10-20 points of extra credit opportunity per quarter. Also - with most quarter exams, there is an extra credit section.
8. Speaking of Quarter Exams...do you curve? Will there be a study guide?
With Quarter Exams, I feel a lot like Goldilocks. I will make a test that's too difficult, too long, too easy, too short - you name it. It's a science to make one that's JUST RIGHT! So, do I curve? Sure. I usually curve 5 points automatically just to cover the handful of questions that may contain a type-o, or maybe a question-numbering mistake, etc. Mistakes are inevitable, so spotting you 5 points off the top is fair. Then, usually, I give YOU the power to increase your curve: I offer 5-10 more points (depending on the length of the exam) for a COMPLETED study guide. You turn this in before I hand out the actual exam on exam day. I try to have the study guide ready a week prior to the exam. I hand out hard copies in class and post it to Google Classroom.