Self-assessing work

Some of your work in this course will be marked by me—as feedback and that kind of commentary is important for learning—but you will be the person who decided on your grade for it. (This is a version of “ungrading.”)

Here’s a copy of what is on Canvas, which is where you’ll be submitting your self-assessment (and peer assessment).

PROJECT STAGE 1 (IDEAS) = 5%

I’ll schedule extra office hours for meetings, individually or in groups. Afterwards, please write a short comment (1-2 sentences) in the text box provided, or record yourself there, explaining what your project’s idea will be. This can be a very rough idea at this stage. And explain your self-grading.

Criteria for an A: For this assignment, that means coming to see me in office hours, and afterwards having some idea of what you’re going to do for your final project.

  • 5 = A
  • (if you’re thinking of giving yourself a grade of 1-4, check in with me first—Canvas inbox—and I’ll try to persuade you of your merits)
  • 0 = not done

PROJECT STAGE 2 (PLANNING) = 5%

Please submit your project planning work (plan, sketch, draft, methodology, bibliography) by writing or recording yourself in the text box or by attaching a PDF.

Please include your self-grading and a short comment (1-2 sentences) explaining it.

Criteria for an A: You completed and submitted work for which you undertook research, developed an argument and used evidence to support it, and ideally presented your ideas in a clear, compelling, creative, and inspiring form. You handed it in on time.

If you decide to assess your work with a B, C, or D range grade, it will likely be because you didn’t manage some or much of what is described above. We’ll talk about that together: come and see me in office hours.

For the purpose of this class, a failing F grade isn’t a grade as much as an acknowledgment that you did not show up and/or do the work. Submitting work that is plagiarized – work that is not your own and/or that you have copied from someone or somewhere else – effectively constitutes not doing the work and will result in an F for that assignment.

**Important Note**: This self-grading scheme assumes presence and timely participation. Students who consistently don’t submit the required work or participate in the self-reflection process will default to a grade that I will assign, based on the work (including presence and participation) that the student has completed. In that case, I reserve the right to change or assign a grade, where appropriate.

(Criteria adapted from Prof. Carla Nappi, University of Pittsburgh.)

  • 5 = A
  • 4 = B+/A-
  • 3.5 = B
  • 3 = C
  • 2.5 = D
  • 0 = not done
  • (if you’re thinking of giving yourself a mark in the 0-2 (= F) range, come and see me first and I’ll try to persuade you of your merits)

PROJECT STAGE 3 (PROGRESS) = 5%

I’ll schedule extra office hours for you, as we did with “Project stage 1 (ideas).”

Afterwards—like in our first meeting—please write a short comment (1-2 sentences) in the text box, or record yourself there, explaining how your project is developing and what stage you’re at. This can still be an unfinished idea at this stage, it’s work in progress. And explain your self-grading.

Criteria for an A: For this assignment, that means coming to see me in office hours, and afterwards having some idea of how your final project is going.

  • 5 = A
  • (if you’re thinking of giving yourself a grade of 1-4, check in with me first—Canvas inbox—and I’ll try to persuade you of your merits)
  • 0 = not done

PROJECT STAGE 4 (WORK SAMPLE) = 5%

Please submit your work sample by writing or recording yourself in the text box or by attaching a PDF.

Please include your self-grading and a short comment (1-2 sentences) explaining it.

Criteria for an A: You completed and submitted work for which you undertook research, developed an argument and used evidence to support it, and ideally presented your ideas in a clear, compelling, creative, and inspiring form. You handed it in on time.

If you decide to assess your work with a B, C, or D range grade, it will likely be because you didn’t manage some or much of what is described above. We’ll talk about that together: come and see me in office hours.

For the purpose of this class, a failing F grade isn’t a grade as much as an acknowledgment that you did not show up and/or do the work. Submitting work that is plagiarized – work that is not your own and/or that you have copied from someone or somewhere else – effectively constitutes not doing the work and will result in an F for that assignment.

**Important Note**: This self-grading scheme assumes presence and timely participation. Students who consistently don’t submit the required work or participate in the self-reflection process will default to a grade that I will assign, based on the work (including presence and participation) that the student has completed. In that case, I reserve the right to change or assign a grade, where appropriate.

(Criteria adapted from Carla Nappi.)

  • 5 = A
  • 4 = B+/A-
  • 3.5 = B
  • 3 = C
  • 2.5 = D
  • 0 = not done
  • (if you’re thinking of giving yourself a mark in the 0-2 (= F) range, come and see me first and I’ll try to persuade you of your merits)

READING COMMENTARY (WEEKS 2-13) = 15%

Please comment on your contributions to class reading commentary by writing or recording yourself in the text box or by attaching a PDF.

Please include your self-grading and a short comment (1-2 sentences) explaining it.

Criteria for an A: Thoughtful and respectful participation. You

(1) kept up with the reading in the course, and demonstrated that to our community through your

(2) generous and respectful participation in reading commentary discussions, and your

(3) questions and responses there.

If you decide to assess your work with a B, C, or D range grade, it will likely be because you didn’t manage some or much of what is described above. We’ll talk about that together: come and see me in office hours or leave me a Canvas Inbox message.

For the purpose of this class, a failing F grade isn’t a grade as much as an acknowledgment that you did not show up and/or do the work. Submitting work that is plagiarized – work that is not your own and/or that you have copied from someone or somewhere else – effectively constitutes not doing the work and will result in an F for that assignment.

**Important Note**: This self-grading scheme assumes presence and timely participation. Students who consistently don’t submit the required work or participate in the self-reflection process will default to a grade that I will assign, based on the work (including presence and participation) that the student has completed. In that case, I reserve the right to change or assign a grade, where appropriate.

(Criteria adapted from Carla Nappi.)

  • A = 13
  • B+/A- = 12
  • B = 11
  • C+/B- = 10
  • C = 9
  • D = 8
  • F = 0 = not done
  • (if you’re thinking of giving yourself a mark in the 0-9 range, come and see me first or leave me a message by Canvas Inbox and I’ll try to persuade you of your merits)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS & FEEDBACK (WEEKS 3-12) = 5%

Self-assessment:

  • Please comment on your own contributions to the Thursday Montaigne discussion sessions by writing or recording yourself in the text box or by attaching a PDF.
  • Please include your self-grading and a short comment (1-2 sentences) explaining it.

Peer assessment:

  • Please also nominate at least THREE discussion-facilitating groups who you think deserve 5 points for their discussion session

Criteria for a self-graded A: Thoughtful and respectful participation. You

(1) kept up with the reading in the course, and demonstrated that to our community through your

(2) generous and respectful participation in class discussions, and your

(3) feedback afterwards there.

If you decide to assess your work with a B, C, or D range grade, it will likely be because you didn’t manage some or much of what is described above. We’ll talk about that together: come and see me in office hours or leave me a Canvas Inbox message.

For the purpose of this class, a failing F grade isn’t a grade as much as an acknowledgment that you did not show up and/or do the work. Submitting work that is plagiarized – work that is not your own and/or that you have copied from someone or somewhere else – effectively constitutes not doing the work and will result in an F for that assignment.

**Important Note**: This self-grading scheme assumes presence and timely participation. Students who consistently don’t submit the required work or participate in the self-reflection process will default to a grade that I will assign, based on the work (including presence and participation) that the student has completed. In that case, I reserve the right to change or assign a grade, where appropriate.

(Criteria adapted from Carla Nappi.)

  • 5 = A
  • 4 = B+/A-
  • 3.5 = B
  • 3 = C
  • 2.5 = D
  • 0 = F
  • (if you’re thinking of giving yourself a mark in the 0-2 range, come and see me first or leave me a message by Canvas Inbox and I’ll try to persuade you of your merits)