First Semester Course Grade

On the top of the yellow holistic rubric, fill out all the lines: advisor, grade level, term, course, and teacher.

Step #1: Mastery of Knowledge

Ignore this first category, which was not a focus for Language Arts this first semester. It will become relevant in the next semester, when we will work on essay exam skills.

Step #2: Application of Knowledge

Give yourself an overall score based on the quality of your three major assignments this semester:

• WA#2: Personal Statement
• WA#3: Moving Voices Narrative – Final Draft
• WA#4: Song of Solomon Literary Analysis

Step #3: Metacognition

• Circle the bullet from the first series that best describes your approach to the learning process this semester. Think particularly about your growth as a writer for the Personal Statement and MV Narrative, as well as your growth as a critical reader in the course of the Song of Solomon literary analysis.
• Review the work you did for your Song of Solomon thesis log. Circle the bullet from the second series that reflects the effort and thoughtfulness you invested in that assignment.

Step #4: Leadership Skills

• The focus this semester is on communication and creativity. Write these two skills onto the lines.
• Based on your scores in the leadership skills category, give yourself a score for each skill.

Step #5: College Work Habits

First bullet series: Engagement and participation

• Circle the bullet in the first series that best describes your participation and engagement in this class over the semester.
• If you have 5 or more tardies, or if 3 or more absences are due to tardies or cuts, lower your participation score by one whole point.
• If you have 7 or more tardies, or if 4 or more absences are due to tardies or cuts, lower your participation score by two whole points.

Second bullet series: Homework and classwork diligence

• If you have a perfect record for turning in assignments on time and complete, you earn a 4 for the second bullet.
• If only 2 assignments were late, incomplete, or missed deadline, you earn a 3 for the second bullet.
• If 3 or 4 assignments were late, incomplete, or missed deadline, you earn a 2 for the second bullet.
• If 5 or more assignments were late, incomplete, or missed deadline, you earn a 1 for the second bullet.
• If any assignment is still missing, you earn a 1 for the second bullet.

Step #6: Your Overall Grade

• Looking at the pattern of circled bullets holistically, sum up your performance in American Literature this past semester with one of the following letter grades: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, or NC.
• If one or more of the writing assignments listed above is missing, give yourself an NC. However, in parentheses, add the passing grade you think will earn after those assignments are submitted.

Step #7: Reflect and Defend

On the back of the rubric, write a short letter that responds to the following prompts:

• Explain/defend the semester grade you gave yourself.
• What are you most proud of about your performance this past semester? Please mention specific assignments or aspects of the course. If you weighted certain assignments in calculating a holistic grade, explain that here.
• What has helped you improve your reading, writing, and/or thinking this past semester? Be specific.
• Are you happy with this grade? Do you feel that it matches your potential? Why or why not?
• Whether you feel the need to stay on course or change course, discuss how you plan to approach this class in the semester to come?

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Posted by Justin Wells : 01/28/2008