_adapted from Department (Division) of Communication documents

this document last updated 1/15/21 ( orig.3/15/12)

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                               

Senior Seminar

Grading Criteria

 

As the capstone course  for your work in your major, achieving a passing grade in this course is essential in order to graduate. Determination of your actual grade in this course centers on the quality of the research project & paper as well as the overall performance in the course/seminar. Consequently the criteria for grading are more course- specific than the Professor's overall grading criteria.

 

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"A" level paper = -Quality research (approx.  15 sources: majority = academic sources)  
- Review of the Literature is well written & well transitioned  
- Follows APA style sheet  
- All deadlines met for proposals, drafts & final paper.  
-All sections adhere to the notes provides throughout semester concerning  content (as per course readings & class discussions)  
 
"B" level paper = -Quality research (approx.  15 sources: majority = academic sources)  
- Review of the Literature is well written & well transitioned  
- Follows APA style sheet  
- All deadlines met for proposals, drafts & final paper.  
-All sections adhere to the notes provides throughout semester concerning  content (as per course readings & class discussions)  
"B" papers do not exhibit the same diligent work & critical thinking required for "A" grades. While the content is good, "B" papers contain an average of 2 edits per page for grammar/citation/transition issues}  
 
"C" level paper = - Research is minimal or lacking (too few academic sources)  
-Writing is problematic in each section  
- Below college-level language usage (e.g. an average of 3 edits per page for grammar/citation/transition issues}
- Below college-level critical writing (e.g. Review of the Literature cannot be read without edits.)  
- All deadlines met for proposals, drafts & final paper.  
 
"D" level paper = - Research is minimal or lacking (too few academic sources)
-Writing is problematic in each section  
- Below college-level  language usage (an average of 5 edits per page for grammar/citation/transition issues}
-  Below college-level critical writing (e.g. Review of the Literature cannot be understood as written.)  
-Does not exhibit understanding of content requirements for each section.  
- Deadlines  not met.  
- In meetings with professor, student cannot clearly explain meaning of written material  
 
"F" level paper = - Paper cannot be understood by reader(s)   
  - Writing and content confusion  
  - Lack of understanding of critical reading and writing  
  - Deadlines not met  
  - In meetings with the professor, student cannot clearly explain meaning of written material.  
-Does not pass course

 

 

 

 

 

 

additional FYI:

Additional grading criteria for classes which include Writing Proficiency classification  (e.g Senior Seminar, Dynamics of Human Comm.)

>   an "A" Paper {...exceptional...}

-provides interesting and relevant thought points for the reader (even for one who is well versed in the subject)

 expresses complex & nuanced insights & connections among concepts

- analyzes &/or applies previously studied principles and ideas

- exhibits good language skills: strong vocabulary / structural competence / creative but accurate phraseology

- uses grammar & mechanics in an error-free manner and provides an effortless experience for the reader

 

> a "B" Paper   {... effectively competent...}

- attempts some complexity & nuanced distinction among ideas

 - provides  a clear  point/ thesis which is developed, not merely stated

- demonstrates clear organization and understanding of structure

- exhibits good language skills: strong vocabulary / structural competence / creative but accurate phraseology

- uses grammar & mechanics in an essentially error-free manner & reader's experience is mostly smooth

 

>   a "C" Paper  {... minimally competent...}

- meets the basic expectation for this level of study [e.g. introductory, advanced, capstone, etc.]

- expresses a point although possible simplistic or unclear

- demonstrates recognizable organization, although might contain problems in logical sequence of points

- exhibits adequate language skills, however, without much insight or sophistication

- uses grammar and mechanics correctly with only minor problems

 

 

>  a "D" Paper  {... marginal ...}

- provides some valid points but the reader must work hard to find them

- has at least one valid core point, although it may not be fully clear

- exhibits a difficult-to-follow structure /\ Ideas do not lead clearly from one point to the next.

- language usage is "off"

- exhibits consistent and/or serious errors in grammar and mechanics [e.g. comma splice, fragment, run-on, etc.]

 

>  an "F" Paper   {...missed the mark...}

- does not fulfill the assignment

- does not present an apparent point or clear direction

- exhibits serious errors and lack of understanding of the expectations for a college level paper.  Minimal grammatical competence is expected of all

students.

 

 

>   NB: Any submission exhibiting any degree of plagiarism [incremental / copy-&-paste  /  full scale lifting] will result in a zero for the paper and possibly an "F" for the course (see College of Communication & the Arts Statement on Academic Integrity)