Description of Discussion and Participation Grades

A: Lively and informed participation, showing clear understanding of the sources and issues.

B: Solid participation with evidence of a careful reading of the sources.

C: Occasional participation with evidence of having consulted the readings

D: Present but not participating

0: Not present and no pre-arranged excused absence

Description of Paper Grades

A: An excellent paper. Has a clear thesis, with a thorough knowledge of the sources, both ancient and modern, and demonstrates the student’s own creativity and ability to engage them and contribute to scholarly debates.

B: A good paper. Has an unclear or weak thesis, but is well organized with good knowledge of the sources. The student may not be fully engaged with the ancient and/or modern sources, or summarize them too much without demonstrating their own creativity.

C: A fair paper. Has an unclear or weak thesis, and may not be well organized or show full knowledge of the sources. The student may summarize one or two sources too much, without showing their own creativity or engaging the ancient sources. There may be significant mechanical problems or the paper may be under length.

D: A poor paper. Has a weak or no thesis, poor organization, serious mechanical problems, or is under length. The student shows some evidence of research or engagement with the topic, but may overlook important sources or issues, or basically just summarize one or two sources. Much of the paper may be summary or block quotes.

F: An unacceptable paper. Has a weak or no thesis, limited or no knowledge of sources or issues, poor organization, serious mechanical problems, and is under length. Bibliography is weak, and there may be padding with long block quotes.

0: Paper not turned in, turned in more than five days late, or plagiarized. This grade may also be assigned to papers that fall well below the requirements of even an F grade.

Lateness policy: Papers are considered late if not turned in promptly at the start of class on the due date. For each day late, the grade of the paper will be lowered by one letter grade (10 points), ie a paper that would have gotten an A would receive a C if turned in two days late. No papers will be accepted more than five days after the due date.

Last updated 8/14/2009