Assessment and Grading Criteria  

 

Assessment

While grades cannot reflect the full amount of learning student’s experience, they are nonetheless a tool by which instructors are able to give students feedback as to their performance. Although we prefer to give only qualitative feedback (written comments and consultations), we are also required to provide students with quantitative assessments, i.e. grades. Therefore, in this program, students are provided both. We would hope that student could focus their attention mostly on the qualitative assessment, as grades reflect only partially how much has been learned.

 

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	Percent	Augsburg Definition
4.0	A	93-100%	Achieves highest standards of excellence
3.5	A-/B+	88-92%
3.0	B	83-87%	Achieves above basic course standards
2.5	B-/C+	78-82%
2.0*	C	73-77%	Meets basic standards for the course
1.5	C-/D+	68-72%
1.0	D	63-67%	Performance below basic course standards
0.5	D-	60-62%
0.0	F	<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.

 

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