Assessment

Assigning numerical grades is a necessary evil in the traditional university setting (at least for the time being). Here's how I typically grade student submissions.

Written submissions: reaction papers, essays, discussion forum contributions

I typically take the following criteria into account when grading written submissions, though I will assign different weights to them based on the nature of the assignment.

  1. Does your submission correctly interpret the directions of the assignment?
    • The subject of the assignment is consistent with requirements of the assignment (e.g., don’t write primarily about X if the assignment is about Y)
    • The structure of the discussion is consistent with requirements of the assignment (e.g., don’t discuss X and Y separately, as if they had nothing to do with each other, if you were asked to make a comparative analysis between X and Y)
  2. Did you uphold intellectual honesty in your submission?
    • Ideas that are not yours have been attributed
    • Effort has been taken to ensure that the submission is plagiarism-free
  3. Is the submission readable and understandable?
    • Are words and phrases used idiomatically?
    • Is the paper free from basic language errors?
  4. Is your submission written with economy and precision?
    • Is the central argument of the paper coherently and completely summarized at some point?
    • Are ideas not repeated unless needed?
  5. Did you follow basic directions for formatting and submitting your work?
    • Student's name has been included/excluded as directed
    • Student number has been included/excluded as directed
    • Submitted file was named as directed
    • Word count requirements were followed
    • Word count was indicated (or not) as directed
    • Sources have been cited correctly and consistently using an accepted citation style
  6. Is the topic of your submission interesting, original, and/or relevant?
    • Presents a novel way of looking at a problem, for an undergraduate-level submission at UP
    • Addresses a current or contested topic
  7. Is the argument of your submission accurate, compelling, and/or convincing?
    • Providing examples
    • Statements are logically organized
  8. Is the argument in your submission nuanced?
    • Providing counterexamples that could pose a threat to the original argument (though finding a way to nevertheless respond to them to support your point)
    • Provide perspectives from other sources that are different from the view being developed

Example

Below is an example of how these guidelines might be used in the context of a marking guide for a final paper.

Course final grades

The UP System uses a system for final grades where 1.0 is the highest possible mark and 5.0 the lowest. See http://our.upou.edu.ph/ourweb/details.php?id=22 for details.

I use one of three schemes for computing the final grade of undergraduate courses. (The descriptions below uses interval notation.) Please note that these are not University-wide schemes; they are schemes I have devised for the courses I teach.

I give 4.0s, EXTs, and DRP-UNOFFICIAL on a discretionary basis. Students must have achieved a cumulative passing grade their submissions before I even consider giving out EXTs. I may adjust the grade boundaries, but always to the advantage of students whenever possible.

Scheme 1 (Permissive)

The passing grade for Scheme 1 is 55%. 

1.00 ≡ [95, 100]
1.25 ≡ [90, 95)
1.50 ≡ [85, 90)
1.75 ≡ [80, 85)
2.00 ≡ [75, 80)
2.25 ≡ [70, 75)
2.50 ≡ [65, 70)
2.75 ≡ [60, 65)
3.00 ≡ [55, 60)
5.00 ≡ [0, 55)

I typically use a Scheme 1 for courses that I know will place great demands on undergraduate students, which include exceptionally difficult Special Topics courses.

Scheme 2 (Lenient)

The passing grade for Scheme 2 is 60%. 

1.00 ≡ [95.555..., 100]
1.25 ≡ [91.111..., 95.555...)
1.50 ≡ [86.666..., 91.111...)
1.75 ≡ [82.222..., 86.666...)
2.00 ≡ [77.777..., 82.222...)
2.25 ≡ [73.333..., 77.777...)
2.50 ≡ [68.889..., 73.333...)
2.75 ≡ [64.444..., 68.889...)
3.00 ≡ [60, 64.444...)
5.00 ≡ [0, 60)

I typically use a Scheme 2 for General Elective and BAMS Elective courses.

Scheme 3 (Standard)

The passing grade for Scheme 2 is 65%. 

1.00 ≡ [96.111..., 100]
1.25 ≡ [92.222..., 96.111...)
1.50 ≡ [88.333..., 92.222...)
1.75 ≡ [84.444..., 88.333...)
2.00 ≡ [80.555..., 84.444...)
2.25 ≡ [76.666..., 80.555...)
2.50 ≡ [72.777..., 76.666...)
2.75 ≡ [68.888..., 72.777...)
3.00 ≡ [65, 68.888...)
5.00 ≡ [0, 65)

I typically use a Scheme 3 for core or major courses, wherein a high level of competence is necessary.