I ws grading my first set of essays today, and most of the students received B's and C's but no one recieved less than that. Am I too harsh on these grades? They are juniors in high school if that helps!
2006-08-23 10:12:33 · 10 answers · asked by Chloe_06 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
To make sure you grade fairly, when coming up with the requirements for the essay make a rubric. Determine points to give and what constitutes an A,B,C, etc. Say an A has at least 5 paragraphs, little spelling errors, etc, then a B has 5 paragraphs, several spelling errors, etc. Before they hand back the assignments know what work will earn a grade that way you know you are grading objectively and don't have any gray areas or doubts. I use rubrics when grading papers (although I teach elementary) and swear by them.
2006-08-23 10:18:53 · answer #1 · answered by ms.applegate 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well.....maybe you have a hard time giving the grade they deserve (in the cases below Cs). I know I taught 3rd graders Spanish..just for 2 semesters as part of a fun thing their school did. Even when they missed several answers I put a sticker on their page.
Make a rubric:
1-5 5 is the best
grammar
punctuation
organization
does it answer what it is supposed to
creativity
uses correct format/font/is the correct amount of pages.etc
things like this..obviously not all of them apply to every essay..but make things that do apply to what you asked for and give the students a copy before they write it. It helps you as the teacher be fair from person to person....by allowing points in each catergory they can't just say "it was a good essay and this one wasn't" for the students it allows them to see specifically what they need to work on next time
2006-08-23 15:31:00 · answer #2 · answered by hambone1985 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a "real" English teacher. I've often had the same problem, so I modified my rubrics. My school gives me the freedom to do this, although some departments are all on one established rubric. At the beginning of the year, I give the student an in-class writing assignment to gauge their abilities. Then I pick out the ten most prevalent problems in their writing. Those become mini-units throughout the year. After I teach on a certain skill that I found particularly lacking, I then hold them accountable for it in their writing. So the students, instead of having to focus on trying to get maybe 30-40 things right (typical rubric), only have to focus on correcting one or two things they've already practiced both in class and on homework assignments. As the year progresses, I'm able to see students improve the ten most critical problems in their writing. This has been, for me, much more effective than trying to get them to juggle a number of issues every time they have an assignment. It also cuts down on the things that I need to really police in their papers. Instead of keeping track of 30 errors, I'm only focusing on a handful at a time. I also have a poster I put up of "Things that count". I list the expectations I have of them there and penalize heavily if the students get them wrong.
2016-03-27 02:49:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you use a rubric with clear guidelines? Grade inflation is a problem in many places. If their grade was based on clear guidelines then remember that C means average. A is supposed to be exceptional. If someone writes an exceptional essay then they deserve an A. If it is less than exceptional then you graded it fairly.
I have some good rubrics that I could send you, or you could do a web search for some. Melvic6@sbcglobal.net
2006-08-23 12:49:15 · answer #4 · answered by Melanie L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ms. Applegate has a great idea - rubics really help you to look at each paper objectively and decide whether or not the paper has met the criteria that is already decided. In the future, when you assign papers, you can make a rubrics for the assignment and hand them out to the students before it is due so they are able to met the criteria for the assignment.
2006-08-23 11:14:03 · answer #5 · answered by lonely_girl3_98 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
set criteria for what is
E) a very poor essay
D) a poor essay
C) a good essay
B) a very good essay
A) an excellent essay
Also consider how much effort each student makes... a very bright student handing in an essay that had little thought and planning even though it is good has not made as much effort as a struggling student who really planned and thought out the essay... if the end result of these two students in similar in quality the struggling student needs credit for the extra effort they made.
2006-08-23 13:50:00 · answer #6 · answered by wollemi_pine_writer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need a rubric to grade essays. If your state gives any type of mandated test, you will find a decent rubric. Check your state department of education, I sure you will find one.
There is also a website that has different rubrics.
Also, it is hard for me to believe that you might be a teacher because of your misspelling and use of apostrophes.
2006-08-23 16:18:53 · answer #7 · answered by vlteach 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We don't know the subject.
We don't know what criteria you are using.
We can't give you an honest opinion unless more facts are presented.
I'll say that you're grading according to your own comfort level.
2006-08-23 10:19:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there are things wrong with them then there are thing wrong with them. Being less harsh would not help them to improve.
2006-08-23 10:19:49 · answer #9 · answered by biscuit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
omg, poor kids, left to someone who has to ask google answers what to do.
2006-08-23 10:21:44 · answer #10 · answered by Joshua S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋