LANG 120.002 (Graves), Spring 2021

Rationale: The intention of this grading contract is to define final course grades by clearly defined student labor rather than by the subjective “quality” of that labor as measured against an idealized standard. My hope is that with this approach, you will think less about your grades, less about trying to give the teacher what you think he wants, less about gaming the system to get the highest grade with the least sweat, less about avoiding failure (which is often our best teacher)—and instead devote yourselves fully to your learning, as well as to conversations about how we know how well we’re doing and how to make our efforts worthwhile.

There are several ways to structure a contract and define what combination(s) of work will earn which grade. What follows here is one approach that offers a place to begin. Our goal, as noted in the syllabus, is to design the contract in such a way as to provide you with both challenge and flexibility. How can we make your work meaningful and encourage you to risk making mistakes? How can we design the system to minimize rewards and punishments and instead emphasize experimentation and feedback?

Note on completion: While the contract does not specify the purpose, audience, or minimum requirements (including submission windows) of each task, these will figure into what constitutes “completeness” for each task named below. See specific task instructions (usually linked from the calendar) for more details. 

Note on late submissions: The baseline expectation is that students will make a good-faith effort to stay on track by submitting work by the deadlines indicated in the calendar. This will help both you and other students, whose work sometimes depends on yours. Also, because our “specs” grading system allows for revision, it’s better for you to submit your work on time, even if it’s not 100% to your satisfaction, than to turn it in several days late. Depending on the task and your situation, however, I may be willing to extend the deadline for you. I just ask that you consult with me about such requests at least a day in advance of the deadline.

I. Commitment to Openness, Presence, Respect, and Integrity

Students agree to honor, in their work and collaboration, the values laid out in the course syllabus, including a respectful openness to each other and a commitment to honesty and integrity. We have a lot to learn from each other, but we also commit to doing, sharing, and submitting our own work, with a good-faith effort to credit and document outside sources or influences that have informed or shaped our ideas. We agree that students who misrepresent the originality of their ideas or information will not meet minimum requirements for particular tasks and may, under certain circumstances, risk a failing grade for the course. Students also know that, when in doubt, they may consult with the instructor. Otherwise we will follow the procedures for responding to academic dishonesty outlined in the most recent catalog (http://catalog.unca.edu/).

II. Plea

The instructor (Brian Graves) pledges to administer and apply this contract fairly and equitably, holding all students accountable to the stipulations of the contract. However, we also agree that students may petition once to have a breach of contract forgiven due to extenuating or unusual circumstances beyond their control, subject to approval by the instructor, whose job it is to ensure that what we may work out will not prove unfair to others in the class. 

III. Defining Grade-Level Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Final Grade “C” (passing/adequate)

  • Complete at least 29 (of 33) attendance credits through attending scheduled f2f or Zoom sessions (including individual conferences), meeting participation requirements for asynchronous activities, or completing alternative interactive tasks (at the instructor’s discretion). 
  • Submit drafts for all projects on schedule.
  • Complete at least one unit project (P1, P2, or P3). 
  • Complete at least one written response to another student’s draft for each shared project (for a total of three or four, pending our decision about P1 peer review).
  • Complete a final reflection & portfolio, including at least two unit projects (complete or not) beyond the final reflection.

Minimum Requirements for Final Grade “B” 

  • Complete all “C” level requirements, plus
  • Complete at least two additional attendance credits (for a total of 31);
  • Complete at least one reflection journal entry for each unit (for a total of three);
  • Complete at least one additional unit project (for a total of two);  
  • Complete at least one additional written response to other students’ drafts for each shared project (that is, two for each project, for a total of six or eight, pending our decision about P1 peer review); 
  • Share all three unit projects (complete or not) in your final portfolio. 

Minimum Requirements for Final Grade “A”

  • Complete all “B” level requirements, plus 
  • Complete at least one style play journal entry for each unit (for a total of three);  
  • Complete all three unit projects (exploration, review, and analysis);
  • Label at least five distinct style devices in the final versions of P1 and P2.

Earning Less Than a C

  • Students may earn a C minus by making a good-faith effort to complete all five targets from the “C” list, even if some items submitted are missing one or two minimum requirements.
  • Students may earn a D+ by completing at least four targets from the “C” list.
  • Students may earn a D by completing at least three targets from the “C” list.
  • Students may earn an F by completing fewer than three targets from the “C” list.

In-between Grades (C+, B-, B+, A-)

Minus grades (B- or A-) may be applied in cases where a student has made a good-faith effort to complete all targets for a given grade, even if some items are missing one or more minimum requirements. 

Plus grades (C+ or B+) may be applied in cases where a student has completed all the requirements for a certain grade, plus additional work beyond it, but not enough to meet all the requirements for the next level. 

Incomplete (I)

At the instructor’s discretion, students may be assigned a grade of “I” (incomplete) under the following conditions (as defined by the catalog): (a) Extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control prevent completion of a “limited amount of work towards the end” of the semester; (b) the student was actively attending and passing the course (that is, keeping up with submissions and deadlines) prior to the extenuating circumstances; (c) no additional class is required to complete the missing work (as students are not permitted to attend future class sessions).

IV. Amendments 

Once we have revised and adopted this contract (with at least 85% agreement), students may propose amendments for group consideration through Friday, March 12. Such amendments should also be approved by at least 85% of active course participants. 

Adoption / amendment notes: 

  • Adopted, by survey, with 100% approval of enrolled students, as of 27 January 2021.