Grading Standards for Essays and Research Papers

 

This is the standard by which I grade all of my essays in order to have a fair grading benchmark.  Please familiarize yourself with it as it shows strengths and weaknesses of essays ranging from grammar and essay logic to paragraph unification and thesis strength.  Every aspect of writing counts, as you will see below.  Any one of these errors may be enough to lower or raise a grade.

"F" Paper (59-00%): Incompetent: uncommon.

This paper has multiple or strong failures in the nine categories.  It shows a thorough lack of mechanics, understanding, paragraph unity, documentation, vocabulary, logical thought, and/or often completely fails to complete the tasks or length assigned by the professor.  This essay is still in major need of a rewrite and often indicates a lack of effort on a student's part.

*****

"D" Paper (60-69%): Lacking Competence: uncommon.

  1. Argument Strength: Exploits the obvious either because of a lack of understanding, an inability to read, a failure to grapple with the topic, or, in some cases, an obvious lack of interest.  The essay's thesis is obvious and irrelevant, fails to capture the reader's attention, and is never proven in the body.

  2. Development: May give the impression of a wandering aimlessly because it lacks an overall controlling idea, or, in some cases, may have a semblance of form without the development that makes the parts a coherent whole; may contain numerous logical fallacies and be characterized by a one-sided/biased approach to the topic that treats alternative viewpoints unfairly.  May be significantly lacking in development of key ideas, and often arguments of this essay could be rearranged with no change in essay flow.

  3. Organization: Has a structure or method that is characterized by irrelevancy, redundancy, inconsistency, or lack of overall vision.

  4. Sentence Types: Has numerous sentences that are convoluted, awkward, monotonous, repetitious, or incorrectly constructed.

  5. Vocabulary: Is characterized by an imprecise, incorrect, or very limited vocabulary; may be unable to recognize clichés, slang, and colloquialisms.

  6. Mechanics: Frequently lacks careful punctuation, mechanical, and grammatical distinctions; errors may seriously interfere with readability.

  7. Documentation (MLA): May frequently neglect appropriate manuscript or documentation style (MLA), giving the impression of a failure to grasp the concept of format or failure to consult the appropriate style manual; often fails to use proper MLA headers, parenthetical citation, or a works cited page.

  8. Source Examination/Incorporation: May fail to consistently demonstrate the ability to logically and fairly evaluate sources and to choose accurate and relevant information; may reveal a tendency to take information out of context and to ignore information that is accurate and relevant but does not support the paper's assertions; may present information form sources that the writer does not appear to fully comprehend; often relies on personal narratives more than research.

  9. Assigned Tasks: May not complete the writing tasks as assigned by the professor or simply strays far off topic.

*****

"C" Paper (70-79%): Competent, the most common level of writing.

  1. Argument Strength: Functions on the literal level, often depending on the self-evident; contains as much or more summary as analysis.  The essay's thesis fails to provoke thought and is often obvious; the essay often fails to keep sight of the thesis throughout the body.

  2. Development: Develops ideas minimally, often leaving the reader with unanswered questions; may contain a number of logical fallacies and be characterized by a somewhat one-sided and biased approach to the topic.

  3. Organization: Has a discernable, but often mechanical and predictable organization; has a weak overall vision.

  4. Sentence Types: Has sentences that are correctly constructed, though perhaps tending toward repetitious patterns with minimal or predictable use of sentence combining (subordination and coordination);

  5. Vocabulary: Works with a limited range of vocabulary and may be dependent on clichés, slang, and colloquialisms; is also generally unaware of choices that affect style and thus is limited in stylistic variation and effects.

  6. Mechanics: Conforms to conventional grammar, mechanics, and punctuation; may contain errors, but not enough to continually distract the reader from the content; feels as if it needs another round of editing to smooth out the rough spots.

  7. Documentation (MLA): Conforms to appropriate manuscript style (MLA), with minimal mistakes.

  8. Source Examination/Incorporation: Demonstrates some ability to logically and fairly evaluate a variety of sources and to choose accurate and relevant information; often uses biased sources; fails to do much more than summarize outside sources and never ties personal arguments to research.

  9. Assigned Tasks: Successfully completes most of the writing tasks as assigned by the professor, but may ignore key elements to the prompt or forget specific tasks.

*****

"B" Paper (80-89%): Good--uncommon writing.

  1. Argument Strength: Demonstrates an understanding of subject matter; usually avoids the obvious and offers interesting interpretations, but may lack the imaginative insights of an "A" paper; will demonstrate a thoughtful and thorough response to the prompt.  The essay either proves a very strong thesis with a few gaps in the argument, or the essay has great argumentation but a thesis that could be a bit tighter.

  2. Development: Develops major ideas with a clear and effective sense of order; largely avoids logical fallacies and one-sided or biased approaches to the topic.

  3. Organization: Progresses by ordered stages in coherent, unified paragraphs.

  4. Sentence Types: Has sentences that are correctly constructed with efficient use of coordination and subordination (sentence combining); demonstrates an understanding of sentence variety; is written in sharply-focused, fluent prose.

  5. Vocabulary: Draws upon vocabulary effective in expressing the writer's thoughts; demonstrates an understanding of alternate ways of expression.

  6. Mechanics: For the most part, uses punctuation and mechanics correctly and purposefully; will be largely free from distracting errors;

  7. Documentation (MLA): Handles sources well and conforms to appropriate manuscript and documentation style (MLA) with few mistakes.

  8. Source Examination/Incorporation: Demonstrates some ability to logically and fairly evaluate a variety of sources and to choose the most accurate and relevant information; avoids bias; successfully merges your own arguments with the arguments of others.

  9. Assigned Tasks: Successfully completes all aspects of the writing task as assigned by the professor.

*****

"A" Paper (90-100%):  Excellent--rare writing.

  1. Argument Strength: Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the subject matter; displays insights on an analytical level that is illuminating and stimulating; will be distinguished by clear and logical thinking and may introduce original interpretations your professor had not thought of; will demonstrate a thorough and thoughtful response to the assignment.  The essay's never loses sight of its thought provoking thesis and proves its argument unwaveringly.

  2. Development: Develops ideas effectively and purposefully with appropriate evidence, examples, and illustrations; avoids logical fallacies and one-sided approaches to complex topics.

  3. Organization: Progresses by clearly-ordered and necessary stages with paragraphs that are coherent and unified; makes strong use of transitions.

  4. Sentence Types: Contains sentences that are skillfully constructed, concise, and effective; is written in sharply-focused, fluent, thoughtful prose.

  5. Vocabulary: Demonstrates a precise and relatively sophisticated vocabulary.

  6. Mechanics: Uses punctuation and mechanics not just correctly, but purposefully.

  7. Documentation (MLA): Handles sources skillfully and conforms to appropriate manuscript and documentation style (MLA) with virtually no mistakes.

  8. Source Examination/Incorporation: Demonstrates the ability to logically and fairly evaluate a variety of sources and select the most accurate and relevant information available; always relates outside information to major arguments with skill and fluidity; merges outside information with your own arguments.

  9. Assigned Tasks: Skillfully completes all aspects of the writing task assigned by the professor.