February 14, 2007
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I made some notes in my class this morning… in my head and on paper.
I have some very direct requirements for only some of my English 105 projects. Essentially, I would love to include both the directions to the project & examples (which I already do) as well as what points will be assigned to certain areas of the document. For some projects, like the Job Packet, I have a gradesheet already created so I can basically go through and check off what they have and don’t have. [Organization of packets, then, would include: 1) What to read in the book in order to be introduced to the project, 2) What you'll be accomplishing for the project, 3) What the document(s) look like, and 4) The gradesheet/requirements...]English 105 is unique in the grading aspect since with essay writing in English 110 & 120, requirements are more subjective. What makes a good introduction? What is good organization? What is flow? With English 105, things are more black and white. Do you have an introduction in your report? Do you have a visual for your Description of a Mechanism? Do you have a paragraph(s) about your qualifications in your cover letter? Since this class is more black and white, I need to make gradesheets/grade criteria more available.
As far as grading in English 110 & 120, I should probably let them in on my process (would it affect how they write at all?). 1) Look at introductions. 2) Put into piles based on good, okay, and not-so-good introductory paragraphs (sometimes I look beyond the intro if I am unsure). 3) Then look at structure & organization. [Does the essay flow from one paragraph to another? Does the student stay on track? Is it interesting (again, subjective)?] 4) Highlight errors for the Minute Paper of Corrections activity…
*I have found that, usually, those with catchy/wonderful/error-free introductions usually have A or B papers. Imagine that!
I gave Ben, one of my students who’s into imports, 15 bonus points for listening to my car. He thinks it’s just my pullies that need some lubrication on the left side of the engine. Here’s hoping he’s right.
