Grading
You will receive grades twice during this semester: one mid-semester mid-semester after completing your first writing portfolio and one at the end after completing the second. Grades will be calculated on a 4.0 scale. Each time you receive a grade, you'll actually get two grades -- one grade based on the final product, your Final Portfolio draft; one grade that combines everything else -- blogging, class participation, process memos, revision, peer review, etc. - Final Portfolio draft in 1st portfolio: 20%
- Blogging, class participation, drafting, etc. for the first half of the semester: 30%
- Final Portfolio draft in 2nd portfolio: 20%
- Blogging, class participation, drafting, etc. for the second half of the semester: 30%
You must participate fully in each of the following aspects of the course in order to pass this class: - Maintaining an individual blog site.
- Working with group members, both in-class and by posting comments to their blogs.
- Completing all assigned drafts and revisions contributing to your writing portfolios.
Timely completion of all the minimum requirements for the course entitles you to a C. To make an A in the course, you must go above and beyond the minimum requirements. For example, - Taking the initiative to post more frequently to your individual blog site.
- Posting additional comments to your group members' blogs.
- Contributing frequently to in-class discussions.
- Striving for increased quality in blogging and commenting.
- Producing the best writing projects in the class.
We will stick closely to the Calendar -- it is important that you keep up. In most circumstances, you may certainly complete your assignments for this class earlier, but it's important that you complete them on time. Much of what you do for this class quickly leads to another assignment. And often, your postings and comments are part of a larger discussion that will not wait for you. Consequently, late assignments will receive little or no credit, except in the case of an extreme emergency--such as serious illness or the death of a close family member (you may be asked to provide documentation). Assignments must also meet the minimum word count to receive credit. For example, you will be asked to write an exploratory draft of at least 500 words. You may certainly write much more, but less will receive little or no credit.