Grading Percentages

English 101 and 102

The grading percentages are designed to encourage effort and reward success.  Notice that half the grade depends upon being in class.  Although you can make up the assignments from missed days, there's a limit to how much make-up work can be allowed.

• 20% Attendance: simply being present in class.  This also includes not being on electronic devices unless they're part of the activity.

• 25% In-Class Activities: Discussions, Worksheets, Group Projects, and Quizzes on Content Materials.  These also represent process assignments to help you understand the research projects.  Some of these activities will require you to use AI in order to see the capabilities, limitations, and ethical concerns surrounding these technologies.

• 25% Process Assignments: Finding Sources, Mapping Your Ideas, and Drafting Your Project.  These are generally graded based on completion.  All planning and organising must be your own: you are not allowed to use ChatGPT or other AI platforms to aid you in your process assignments, but you may use Wikipedia to help you find sources.  Please note that I do not take off points for grammar, spelling, formatting, or any other visual elements — I encourage you to use whatever bullet points or freewriting will help you reach your word count goals.

• 20% Research Papers: The final grades on completed papers.  All work must be your own: you are not allowed to use ChatGPT, Grammarly, or other AI platforms to modify your work, but spellcheck is okay.  Please note that I do not take off points for grammar and style.

• 10% Presentations: The final grades on in-class presentations.  You may use images and sound clips from outside sources with attribution, but you are not allowed to use AI editors to modify your presentation materials.  Please note that I do not grade based on the quality of the sound or visuals.

English 099

As a developmental course, English 099 uses a different grading system than 101 and 102.  The higher percentages assigned to in-class activities reflects the strong focus on discussion and reflection:

• 60% In-Class Activities: This primarily includes discussions, worksheets, and other activities.

• 40% Learning Journals: These are 5 reflective journals of 750 words each.  In these journals, you'll write about your past and present experiences with writing, research, and learning.