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Grading

This section should include:

an evaluation policy and percentage weighting for all coursework, discussion, tests, assignments, etc.
a point or grading system and calculation method used for the final letter grade
a rubric for evaluating all areas of coursework
an attendance policy

This is a very important section in your syllabus. Carefully consider your choices.

Clearly state each graded area of the course. Include whether credit will be points or a letter grade and the percentage weighting of each area.

If you use points, you must state the scale you use to convert points to a letter grade.

Develop a rubric for each grading component. For example, a different rubric for each of the following: written work, discussions, class participation, and presentations.

Each rubrics should clearly state what students must do to earn the highest grade and how the points or grade can diminish. Failure to clarify your grading system will cause problems and grief at the end of the semester.

Attendance is not always a part of a course grade. Therefore, you need to decide how or if you will use attendance as a course grade component. This depends on the type of course you have (lecture, lab, or activity) and your own expectations for the progression of the course work.

In a large 800-student lecture class, you may not take attendance at all. The size of the class dictates that a midterm and final exam may be the total for the final grade. Another instructor may include some submitted assignments. If attendance is a component in a very large class, you can give a short Scantron quiz at the end of each class or week to enforce attendance in a practical way.

If your class is a lab with 25 students, consistent attendance may be vital. It would not be a problem to take attendance. As the lab work may build on previous classes, you may decide to include attendance as a component to your grading.

You MUST included and clearly state attendance policy in your syllabus.

Questions to consider for the attendance policy:

How will each absence affect the final grade?
How will tardiness or leaving early from class affect the final grade?
How much time constitutes a late arrival? (Five minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes?)
Does a medical certificate make an absence OK and not factored into the final grade?
Does an absence affect a final grade if a student calls the instructor in advance?
How many free absences do you allow before counting them against the final grade?
What official absences do not affect grades according to university policy? (Religious holidays or jury duty?)

Example from Dr. Jane DeWitt:

Course Grade:

One grade is assigned for the class. Both the lecture and the laboratory determine final grades in the course. Total lecture points will be scaled out of 1000 points for course grade determination. The lecture is worth 75% of the final course grade, and the laboratory is worth 25% of the final course grade.

To receive a grade of C- or better, you must earn a minimum of 500 points (scaled points) and a minimum of 500 points in the laboratory.

The final letter grade in the course will be assigned based on cumulative points earned in both the lecture and the laboratory (0.75(scaled lecture points) + 0.25(lab points)):

875 to 1000 points A- to A
750 to 874 points B- to B+
500 to 749 points C- to C+
350 to 499 points D- to D+
below 349 points F

Incompletes and Withdrawals:

Grades of incomplete are not allowed for this course. Between February 27 and April 27, you may withdraw from the course for serious and compelling reasons.

If you wish to withdraw from the course, you must: (1) get documentation for your reason, (2) get an unofficial transcript, (3) check out of your locker, (4) complete a petition (available in Department Office, Thorton Hall 806), and (5) bring all of this to me for signature. If you decide to unofficially withdraw (i.e. you stop attending exams or the lab), you will receive a letter grade appropriate to your performance in class.

Retroactive withdrawals are not allowed except for incredibly serious reasons with suitable documentation.

If you stop attending this class, you must check out of your laboratory locker. If you do not, you will be fined and a hold placed on your registration.

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