Assessment and Grading Criteria  

 

Explanation of Grades

We believe that good evaluation of student work is an art and not a science. The grading system we use attempts to be as explicit as possible regarding the ways in which students are evaluated. Augsburg College uses a numerical grading system, as well as the Pass/No Credit (P/N) option, which we highly recommend since we find that students who do so are liberated from worries about grades and freer to enter into an honest evaluation of their own work and to focus on their own individual goals while simultaneously trying to meet the most important course requirements. If students are taking courses for a traditional grade, they will receive a numerical grade on the transcript. In Cuernavaca, we use a point system whereby students will need to achieve a certain number of points per letter and numerical grade. (73 points are needed to pass.)

 

Augsburg College uses a numerical grading system so students will receive a numerical grade on the transcript. Numerical grades are used with these definitions:

 

Number Grade	Letter Equivalent	# of Points	Percent	Augsburg Definition
4.0	A	93-100 points	93-100%	Achieves highest standards of excellence
3.5	A-/B+	88-92 points	88-92%
3.0	B	83-87 points	83-87%	Achieves above basic course standards
2.5	B-/C+	78-82 points	78-82%
2.0*	C	73-77 points	73-77%	Meets basic standards for the course
1.5	C-/D+	68-72 points	68-72%
1.0	D	63-67 points	63-67%	Performance below basic course standards
0.5	D-	60-62 points	60-62%
0.0	F	<60 points	<60%	Unacceptable performance (no course credit)

 

*A 2.0 or higher is required for a passing grade for courses designated with the “Pass/No Credit” grade option.

 

The Point System

The grading system we use attempts to be as explicit as possible regarding the grading criteria. Each assignment offers a certain maximum number of points that you can earn, corresponding to a given percentage of the total course grade.

 

For example, an assignment that is worth 15% of the total course grade will offer a maximum of 60 points. For each individual assignment, you will be given an assignment description that will break down the number of points given for the quality with which you meet specific criteria. As a result, once each assignment is returned to you, you will know exactly how many total points you have and how many more points you need to achieve the grade you would like for the course.

 

Is it necessary to strive for all "A"s? Of course not. A "C" means that you have met all of the basic standards for the course and a "B" means that your work is above the basic standards. Since you may have more interest in one course than another or have other goals for yourself than simply achieving a 4.0, you may want to strive for a "B" and only complete the work necessary to achieve that grade so that you can focus on other pursuits. The same holds true if you are taking your courses on a P/N basis: to pass you need 292 points.

 

Again, we encourage you to free yourself up from worry about grades as much as possible so that you can concentrate on learning. It is up to you what grades you choose to pursue, or whether or not you use the P/N option, but the point system tells you where you stand and allows you the flexibility of determining what work you most want and/or need to do.

 

Grading Criteria

While it may vary slightly from assignment to assignment, most of your work will be graded on the following four criteria: 1) Form (10%), 2) Content (30%) 3) Interpretation and Analysis (30%), and 4) Connections (30%). The instructors consider superior work to be work that fulfills the following criteria:

 

1) Form (10%):

• extremely well organized

• articulates ideas clearly and concisely

• correct grammar and spelling

• legible

• accurate citation of readings and speakers (using footnotes or endnotes and bibliography)

2) Content (30%):

• includes an articulate statement of your thesis and/or questions for further exploration

• demonstrates accurate knowledge of the subject

• scales down information to what is most important

• exhibits a profound understanding of the main points expressed by guest speakers and in required readings

• employs solid logic and well-documented data

• supports arguments with concrete examples from readings, speakers, and own experiences

3) Interpretation and Analysis (30%):

• presents more than just a summary of information

• analyzes issues from different viewpoints

• recognizes interrelationships among issues

• draws upon assigned texts, class sessions and guest speakers to support own thesis

• makes logical arguments

• articulates complexities of the issues

• generates critical questions not addressed fully by authors or speakers

• applies principles and generalizations already learned to new information

4) Connections (30%):

• demonstrates an understanding of the ways in which issues interrelate with each other

• integrates knowledge from diverse sources

• compares ideas of authors of required readings with each other

• makes connections between ideas raised in required readings with those of guest speakers

• takes new information acquired in Mexico and Central America and effectively integrates it with prior

• knowledge and experiences

• synthesizes and integrates information and ideas