Brief Identification: We simply what to see that you understand the term / concept. Try to identify it and show the significance in a sentence or two. If you do this, you will receive full credit.
Short answer and brief essays (knowledge
and understanding questions): These are questions where we
want you to demonstrate that you have learned (memorized) the
relevant information (the knowledge) and that you understand that
knowledge. It is difficult to separate out "thinking,"
but the nature of the question and time allowed does not allow
for an in-depth discussion of how you react to the topic
A: the answer covers the salient features and shows a clearing
understanding of how the feature or features relates to the course.
The answer shows that you understand counter opinions if any were
discussed in class or in the assigned readings. The essay has
no rough edges.
A-: the answer covers the salient features and shows a
clear understanding of how the feature or features relates to
the course. The answer shows that you understand or are aware
of counter opinions if any were discussed in class or in the assigned
reading. The opposing opinions are not understood as well as they
might be though. This essay could also be an "A" essay
with several rough edges. In short, if there is more than one
"rough edge," then the highest you can score is an "A-."
B+: the answer covers the salient features and shows a
clear understanding of how the feature or features relates to
the course. The answer shows that are aware of counter opinions
if any were discussed in class or in the assigned reading, but
that you do not really understand the counter opinions. This essay
could also be one that relates all the "knowledge" well,
but it does not show that you have a clear understanding of the
topic. This essay could also be an "A" or "A-"
essay with several rough edges. In short, if there is multiple
"rough edges," then it is difficult to score higher
than a "B+".
B: the answer covers the salient features from a knowledge
standpoint, but it only touches on how the feature or features
relates to the course. The answer is probably weak in areas such
as understanding counter opinions if any were discussed in class
or in the assigned reading. This essay could also be an "A"
essay but merely sloppy. It could also be an "A- or B+"
essay with several more rough edges. In short, even if you have
the content down, the presence of numerous (more than 2 or 3)
rough edges will make the answer a "B" essay.
B-: the answer covers the salient features, but it misses
several important features that would enable it to score higher.
There are numerous rough edges or errors in the essay. In short,
this essay fails to relate the understanding part of the topic,
but it covers all the salient features. You cannot score higher
than a "B-" if all the salient features are not there,
so this is a very acceptable grade for an average answer that
covers all the basics.
C+: this answer fails to cover everything required, but
it shows that you understand what has been covered. It also assumes
that the essay has covered enough of the salient features to warrant
a complete answer.
C: this answer fails to cover everything, and it seems
that you do not understand the relevance of the question. A "C"
assumes that the essay has covered enough of the salient features
to warrant a complete answer.
C-: this answer is a "C" but with numerous errors,
points of confusion, or omissions.
D or F: these answers fail to answer the question
completely.
Longer essays (Knowledge, understanding,
and thinking questions): These are questions where we want
you to demonstrate that you have learned (memorized) the relevant
information (the knowledge), that you understand that knowledge,
and most importantly that you have thought about the material
A: the answer covers the salient features and shows a clearing
understanding of how the feature or features relates to the course.
The answer includes both specific (illustrative) examples and
general patterns toward which these examples point. This answer
shows that you understand counter opinions if any were discussed
in class or in the assigned readings. The essay has no rough edges.
The answer also shows that you have thought about how the topic
relates to issues discussed in the course and outside the course.
The answer is polished.
A-: the answer covers the salient features and shows a
clear understanding of how the feature or features relates to
the course. The answer shows that you understand or are aware
of counter opinions if any were discussed in class or in the assigned
reading. The opposing opinions are not understood as well as they
might be though. This essay could also be an "A" essay
with several rough edges. In short, if there is more than one
"rough edge," then the highest you can score is an "A-."
. The answer also shows that you have thought about how the topic
relates to issues discussed in the course and outside the course.
The answer is polished, but lacks something from an "A".
B+: the answer covers the salient features and shows a
clear understanding of how the feature or features relates to
the course. The answer shows that are aware of counter opinions
if any were discussed in class or in the assigned reading, but
that you do not really understand the counter opinions. This essay
could also be one that relates all the "knowledge" well,
but it does not show that you have a clear understanding of the
topic. This essay could also be an "A" or "A-"
essay with several rough edges. In short, if there is multiple
"rough edges," then it is difficult to score higher
than a "B+". . The answer also shows that you have thought
about how the topic relates to issues discussed in the course
and outside the course. Your answer shows that you understand
the material, but the way in which you have thought about its
significance is not polished.
B: the answer covers the salient features from a knowledge
standpoint, but it only touches on how the feature or features
relates to the course. The answer is probably weak in areas such
as understanding counter opinions if any were discussed in class
or in the assigned reading. The answer includes some specific
examples, but it omits some importants examples or relies on weaker
ones. This essay could also be an "A" essay but merely
sloppy. It could also be an "A- or B+" essay with several
more rough edges. In short, even if you have the content down,
the presence of numerous (more than 2 or 3) rough edges will make
the answer a "B" essay. . The answer also shows that
you have thought about how the topic relates to issues discussed
in the course and outside the course. Your answer shows that you
understand the material, but the way in which you have thought
about its significance is not as polished as a "B+"
essay.
B-: the answer covers the salient features, but it misses
several important features that would enable it to score higher.
There are numerous rough edges or errors in the essay. In short,
this essay fails to relate the understanding part of the topic,
but it covers all the salient features. You cannot score higher
than a "B-" if all the salient features are not there,
so this is a very acceptable grade for an average answer that
covers all the basics. Your answer shows that you understand the
material, but the thought is not very deep. The essay may have
other flaws that make it less than a "B" essay.
C+: this answer fails to cover everything required, but
it shows that you understand what has been covered. It also assumes
that the essay has covered enough of the salient features to warrant
a complete answer. There may be few specific examples, or little
attempt to move from the specific and general patterns they suggest.
Or, you do not understand the relevance of the question to larger
issues.
C: this answer fails to cover everything, and it seems
that you do not understand the relevance of the question. A "C"
assumes that the essay has covered enough of the salient features
to warrant a complete answer.
C-: this answer is a "C" but with numerous errors,
points of confusion, or omissions.
D or F: these answers fail to answer the question
completely.