Brief Identification: I 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 I
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 I 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 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. 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. 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.