You
know and we know that professors grade differently. Not only
are there differences between departments, topics, and course levels,
but professors also understand assignments somewhat differently. We
strongly recommend that you listen carefully to what your professor
says about your assignments and that you meticulously read the
syllabus. If you have any questions or concerns about grading,
address them to the instructor in class.
There are also many similarities in how professors
assign grades. We, the anthropology faculty at VCU, all agree
on these basic understandings of each grade value for a written assignment:
A "C" grade means that basic expectations
and requirements were met according to minimum criteria. A “C” signals
average work.
"B" work is good, competent work that brings together
several elements with greater sophistication, often developing new
ideas and articulating critical approaches. "B" papers
are well thought-out and have few writing problems (including organization,
style, and grammar). Most ideas are well developed, but not
all.
"A" work is truly exceptional in all areas. Ideas
are well presented and developed, arguments are carried through to
their logical conclusions, new insights are expressed, ideas are
well integrated, and sufficient evidence is provided to support conclusions
and arguments. “A” work identifies important concepts
and theories and the writer uses these concepts to express personal
insight.
"D" work is lacking in content and/or
presentation, while "F" work meets none of the defined criteria
or expectations.
These grading standards apply equally
to written and oral assignments, class participation, and group activities.
