Marson’s Writing Courses

Grading term papers is a four stage process:

Stage 1: Students are required to submit a draft by employing Blackboard’s “Safe Assignment.” Make sure to upload within the DRAFT protocol and NOT the section for the FINAL paper.   Students will receive feedback online. 

Stage 2: Compliance with the standards or outline provided in the syllabus. If a large number or serious errors are identified, the student is dropped a letter grade. Notes are made for the professor to use in giving a final grade.

Stage 3: The body of the thoroughly is read thoroughly. When I see a problem I make notes on the paper. I will not accept: second person pronouns (you), colloquial expressions ("a lot"), writing as if the writer is speaking, fragmented paragraphs, incomplete ideas. After reading the paper, I make a shorthand note which only I understand. Based on my notes, the papers are placed in piles: A, B, C, D, and F.

Stage 4: I take each pile starting with A and rank them. The papers are compared! A number grade is given based on how each student performed in contrast to other students in the same pile. A number grade is awarded.