LIT 328 (Graves, Maymester 2021
Click here for a Google Docs version of this contract.
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 “B”
- Complete five original posts to the discussion forums, following the schedule and meeting all minimum requirements.
- Complete twelve response posts to the discussion forums, following the schedule and meeting all minimum requirements.
- Submit all four “ensayos,” following the schedule and making a good faith effort to meet all requirements.
Additional Requirements for Final Grade “A”
- Complete one more original post and two more response posts to the discussion forums, following the schedule and meeting all minimum requirements; and
- Revise at least two ensayos to meet all the minimum requirements fully, following the instructor’s feedback.
Earning Less Than a B
- Students may earn a C by completing at least four original forum posts and ten response posts, and submitting three ensayos.
- Students may earn a D by completing at least three original forum posts and eight response posts, and submitting two ensayos.
- Students may earn an F by completing fewer than three original forum posts and eight response posts, and submitting fewer than two ensayos.
| D targets | C targets | B targets | A targets | |
| Forums: Original posts | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Forums: Responses | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 |
| Ensayos Submitted | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 + 2 fully completed |
In-between Grades (D+, C-, C+, B-, B+, A-)
Minus grades 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 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 term; (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 Wednesday, May 19. Such amendments should also be approved by at least 85% of active course participants.
Adoption / amendment notes:
- Adopted by survey with 92% approval of enrolled students, as of May 11, 2021.
- Adjustments approved 5/25/21 by majority of students present on class Zoom call.