Rules, Grades, and Expectations
Table of Contents
Grade Criteria: The following grade criteria has been modeled after Professor
Micheline Lessard's.
1. How to get an A range on paper or exam:
A) Exam:
- you have answered the question directly
- you have provided concrete, clear information
- you have made no factual errors
- you have answered the question in a clear, logical, and well structured manner
- you have analyzed the materials (that is, you have not
merely described events, you have explained them. --your exam shows a clear understanding of the
materials and issues covered in the class
B) Paper:
- you have followed the technical instructions
- your paper has a viable or clear hypothesis, thesis or judgment.
- your paper supports your judgment
- your paper is analytical (see above)
- your paper contains no factual errors
- your paper is written in a logical, coherent, and well structured manner (that is, one paragraph
naturally leads into the next)
- your paper contains many clear, concrete, and well documented examples which support your thesis/judgment
- your paper shows a clear and profound understanding of the topic.
2. How to get a B range on paper or exam:
A) Exam:
- you have coveres the question directly
- your exam is written in a competent manner
- your exam shows a decent understanding of the materials and issues covered in the class
- there are few, if any, minor factual errors
- you have used some concrete examples to illustrate your point
- you have made an attempt to analyze the materials
B) Paper:
- you have followed the technical instructions
- your paper has a clear hypothesis, thesis or judgment.
- your paper supports your judgment fairly well
- your paper is analytical (see above)
- your paper contains few, if any, minor factual errors
- your paper is written in a logical, coherent, and well structured manner (that is, one paragraph
naturally leads into the next)
- your paper contains some analysis
- your paper shows a decent understanding of the topic.
3. How to get a C range on paper or exam:
A) Exam:
- you have answered the question but not directly
- your exam is written in without much logical sequence to it
- your exam shows a fair (i.e., mediocre) understanding of the materials and issues covered in the class
- you have a few factual errors
- you have few concrete examples to illustrate your point
- you have been descriptive rather than analytical
B) Paper:
- you have followed the technical instructions
- your paper has a vague hypothesis, thesis or judgment.
- your paper barely supports your judgment
- your paper has little analysis
- your paper contains some factual errors
- your paper is poorly structured
- your paper contains few concrete examples to support your topic
- your paper shows a fair understanding of the topic.
4. How to get a D range on paper or exam:
A) Exam:
- you have not answered the question directly
- your exam is poorly written and there is little structure to your answer
- there are many vague generalities
- you have a factual errors
- you have few, if any, concrete examples
- there is no analysis
- your answer shows little, if any, understanding of the materials and issues covered in class or in
your textbooks.
B) Paper:
- you have not followed the technical instructions
- you have no hypothesis, thesis or judgment.
- there is little, if any, analysis
- your paper has factual errors
- there are few, if any, concrete examples or citations to support your hyposthesis
- your paper is poorly structured
- your paper contains few concrete examples to support your topic
- your paper shows little, if any, understanding of the topic.
5. How to get a F on paper or exam:
- see "D" but add that the technical instructions have not been
followed and that the paper is not within the range of accepted topics
and/or derivative. That is to say, PLAGIARIZED.
N.B. (Mark thee well): I will not give any make-ups for a missed exam.
A missed exam or quiz = 0. We do not have facilities here to accomodate makeups.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Any such incident (either
on tests or in papers) will be dealt with to the maximum allowed under
applicable Carthage's policies. To let cheaters/plagiarizers go unpunished
does a severe injustice to the other students in the class and, ultimately, to the
cheater/plagiarizer. I intend to protect the integrity of other students' grades.
Don't even think of cheating! If you do so, I will fail you for the course and
take the matter to the Dean of the College.
WHY HAVE I ESTABLISHED THE GOALS/OBJECTIVES AND RULES I HAVE?
The answer is simple: these goals and behaviors have been cited by people in the corporate world as required
and necessary. Barbara Campbell, Ph.D. has graciously given me what Snap On Tools expects. What you will be
reading below is a portion of her powerpoint presentation as edited by me. Although you are here ideally to
engage in learning for its own sake, you will be well served by achieving the goals and expectations of the
course, for they translate into the following in the private sector:
GENERAL SKILLS
- Literacy--written and oral
- Critical Thinking
- Conceptualize a problem or issue
- Gather information
- Organize nformation
- Draw conclusions
- Make recommendations
- Math/science literacy
- Frame issues
- Basic manipualtion of numbers
- Basic statistics
- Computer literacy
- word processing
- Spreadsheets
- Databases
- Presentations (e.g., powerpoint)
- Internet
- Interpersonal skills
- Ability to work in teams and independently
- Ability to relate well up and down the hierarchy
- Basic respect and sensitivity to all people, cultures, etc.
- Foreign Language fluency
CHARACTER
- Work ethic--willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done (here I am sure they
mean anything that is legal--cheating and plagiarism is not what it takes to get the job
done.)
- Honesty, integrity, etc.
- Willing to take the initiative--see what needs to be done, and jump in
- Self-aware, introspective--ability to assess own strengths and weaknesses
BASIC ATTITUDES/BEHAVIORS NEEDED
- Understand that life-long learning is necessary and good
- Be proactive. Employee is responsible for own career, as in lifelong series of positions
- Understand that there is an ongoing need for investment--time, money, -- in continued learning
- Good manners, including knowledge of workforce
- Civility--showing basic respect and courtesy.
