Grading Policy

1. I grade all assignments at once after the deadline, even if I received them early. It is more efficient to do so.

2. To access your grades in Blackboard, click "User Tools" "Check Grade" link. NOTE: NEVER look at the percentage--it is usually wrong. Go by the total points. On the "Class Schedule/Calendar" (link is under "Assignment Assistance") look in the right-hand column and you will see a weekly grade scale, based on points earned by the end of that week.

3. ASSIGNMENTS: 

There is a "Grading Criteria" link on each assignment page.  I will post the Grading Criteria codes pertaining to your assignment on the Grade Post. The Grading Criteria codes will remain posted on the Grade Post for 1 week after grading those assignments submitted on time.

4. DISCUSSION BOARDS:

An additional part of your responsibility is to post to the Discussion Board and, if directed, comment thoughtfully on your classmates' postings beginning the first week of classes.  PLEASE NOTE that you must have postings for the week submitted by the deadline posted on the Class Calendar. Any postings after this time will not be counted. 

Grading

In general, I will consider the quality of your writing when grading your discussion. I will use the following criteria to evaluate your work:

• Does your answer indicate a good understanding of the question being asked?
• Does your answer indicate mastery of the material?
• Do you defend your views using studies discussed in the reading assignments and commentaries? (Identify the studies by the names of the researchers.)
• Are your arguments well organized, and is the sequence of ideas logical?
• Are your arguments superficial, or do they demonstrate careful thought?
• Is your work neat and free of typographical and spelling errors?

More specifically, evaluation of postings & responses, ONLY IF DIRECTED, is on four levels, depending on the type of Discussion Board assignment:

1. Student's immediate posting. It is obvious that there is more chance to be original if yours is one of the first postings. Should reflect personal involvement in the topic when appropriate.

2. Ideas:

• 100-90%--Exceptionally  creative/original/insightful, well-developed ideas based on some type of research or reading that is stated with relevant and accurate data/information to back up the response, when appropriate; evidence of synthesis and generalization of the material within the comments. 

The meaning of "Original"-- Dr. G. cannot judge if your post is based on your referring to those who have posted before you. Also, some DBs will have more than one appropriate choice for sources, interpretation, etc.. Therefore, "original," when appropriate, refers to using sources or websites different from others who have posted, a different interpretation of the same source from those who have posted, etc.. 

• 89-80%.-- Well-developed ideas with relevant and accurate data/ information to back up the response and fairly original, when appropriate.
• 79-60%.-- Developing ideas with data/information to back up the response, when appropriate
• 59-01%.--Poorly developed ideas 
• 0 %--No response or tasteless/inappropriate response ONLY IF DIRECTED.

PART 3 BELOW ONLY IS RELEVANT IF YOU WERE DIRECTED TO RESPOND TO ANOTHER STUDENT'S POST.

If directed to respond to your classmates' posts, your response(s) must be spread out over the week.  Please do not wait until the deadline and post and respond on the same day. With some Discussion Boards you may be required to both POST your work AND RESPOND/REPLY to another student's posting.

3. Level of involvement referring to responses ONLY IF DIRECTED:

• Top level-- responds thoughtfully to classmates' postings with correct number of responses when directed.

• Mid level-- responds to classmates' postings 

• Low or no level--does not respond or responds inappropriately to classmates' postings

I will be looking for IN-DEPTH THINKING OR ON THE DISCUSSION BOARD. Simply stating that you agree with another student does NOT constitute "in-depth thinking"!

For given Discussion Boards at end of term, I may look at the responses from other students that each student's comments generate. If the original comment was not very thought provoking, other students are not likely to react to it.
 

4. ACADEMIC HONESTY: It is expected that all students work independently and ethically on tests, quizzes, papers, and other assignments.  PLAGIARISM: It is unethical and illegal to use someone else's words, even a recognizable one or two-word phrase, without putting the material in quotation marks AND POINTING OUT THE SOURCE.  Any student found to be cheating in either of the above manners will automatically be dismissed from the course and receive the final grade of "F" for the course. The Dean of your college will be notified of the infraction. 

Students are expected to follow the mandates of the University of Cincinnati Code of Conduct. You may view this information online at the following site: http://www.uc.edu/conduct.html .