Grading Standards

Approach any document to be graded with the assumption that it is of average quality until the document provides evidence that it is of a higher or lower order. The run-of-the-mill essay from our students tends to be in the C+/B- range.

This same approach should be applied to all of the components of the students' final grades. (E.g., students earn an "A" for attendance by showing up every day on time, prepared, and ready to participate; merely avoiding the penalty for excessive absence is average.)