Grading

Picture of the snowcapped Andes Mountains in Bolivia.

This course is not graded based on an average of your assignments. Read this section carefully and ask questions. It's a great grading system, but likely not one you're familiar with.

Notes on Grading

All assignments are designed to assess one or more objectives. The assignment either meets the objectives or does not. Consequently, each assignment is marked as pass or fail. Letter grades will be assigned based the quantity and depth of the assignments the student passes. Since partial credit is not awarded for assignments that do not meet the stated objectives, pay close attention to the assignment guidelines and be proactive about any questions you may have.

If you receive a failing mark, you may revise and resubmit the work within a week of receiving your comments. (This may be done only one time during the course.)

Note: All assignments must be conducted in Spanish unless otherwise indicated.

Bundle Grading

Research has shown that adults learn better by having more control over the goals they set and the work they complete.[1] Consequently, I encourage you to set ambitious goals for the grade you would like to receive at the end of the course. Final grades are determined based on the bundle—or predetermined group of assignments—that you complete; if you are aiming for an A you must pass all the assignments in that bundle under A, if you’re happy with a B you would complete that bundle, and so forth.

If you attempt a bundle and fall short, you will receive the grade based on the work that was satisfactorily submitted. A failure to complete the bundle required for a D will result in a failing grade.

[1] Nilson, Linda. (2014) Specifications Grading: Restoring Rigor, Motivating Students, and Saving Faculty Time, Stylus Publishing.

The Bundles Are:

In other words, to receive an A you must satisfactorily complete the following:

A 3.5 average on participation, 4 rough drafts, 8 final submissions, and the final paper.

If you fall short of this bundle, you'll receive the grade for the bundle you've successfully completed. Doing more in one category but not meeting the criteria for another category does not balance out. A bundle must be completed in all its elements for that grade to apply.

Canvas cannot be configured to calculate grades based on bundle grading. Consequently, the percentages that will show up on Canvas do not reflect your grade. Don’t hesitate to shoot me an email throughout the semester to check in on your grade if you’re having trouble calculating it yourself!

Honors Students

In addition to the above requirements, honors students must record and upload a 5-minute reflection video in Spanish. The video should be structured as a presentation and should address one of the following topics:

· Different styles of writing have different goals and use different rhetorical (stylistic) devices to achieve those goals. How will you use your new-found knowledge of writing styles to help you make sense of controversial news topics in the future?

· Writing is a multi-stage process involving planning, editing, and polishing. The same skills are beneficial in a wide range of contexts. How can you apply this pattern to other areas in your life?

· A university degree in Spanish helps you communicate with others and develop an awareness of your own cultural biases. How will you use these abilities to foster relationships with Latinx people outside of class?

This video may be uploaded to canvas at any point in the last few weeks of class but should be submitted no later than the due date of the final exam.

Students in the honors section who do not complete the honors assignment will have their grade reduced by a letter.

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