Repository: UIHistories Project: Booklet - Standards in Freshman Rhetoric (1956) [PAGE 5]

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the facilitie » its reading clinic available 1 :h deficiencies. The Univen also re< rniies the value oi ftking, effective listening, and ability to nterpret many kinds of graphic devices. Several coland departments within others, require one or more sw h cou and a considerable number of t first-year work in this subject.

Standards f o r Judging Freshman Rhetoric Written Work

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I): i I. ,.„le «.i I) Indicates bi IOM aw < "> ment iii expressing idi »rre< tly and eff<

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«,i English and fail t<. present a • develop it adequately. With moo < ul proof re.ulin md fuller development, a y !> '

m i g h t be w o r t h at least (• r a t i n g .

les on written work range from A to E. They are n content as well as form. Plus and minus I to grades are intended to give warning >r ei ment but signify nothing in the final i >rd. ( lly some instructors give split , such B/E. with the B for content or organization and the E for weakness in mechanics or spellSuch grades, too. must be resolved at the end of the semester to conform to the University gradinj system. Ordinarily, if the weaknesses indicated by the lower g are not cleared up in subsequent themes, the lower grade prevails in the permanent record. 1 On most theme assignments instructors grade papers according to standards defined below: A: The A theme shows originality of thought in stating and developing a central idea. Its ideas arc clear, logical, and thought provoking: it contains all the positive qualities of good writing listed below: 1. Careful construction and organization of sentence md paragraphs. 2. Careful choice of effective words and phrases. 3. Concentration on a main purpose, with adequate development and firm support. B: I he B theme has a clearly stated central purpose. lo'_ ally and adequately developed. Its ideas are clear becau it contains some of the positive qualiti of good writing. It is comparatively free of errors in the u of English. Although indicating ten the B paper lacks the originality of thought and style which chai terizes the A theme. ' th< will re. eiv i grade of C. It 1 i t organized clearly enough V < »tl pur) h e n ier. It avoids | Ion

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E: The grade of E usually indicates failure to and develop -i main idea. It may also indicat failure to avoid serious errors in grammar, [x-li ing. punctuation, and ntence structure. Fr< man Rhetoric instructors are igr< ! that th following are the weakm which characters E calibre writing: 1. Comma splice, or run-together sentences 2. Sentence fragments 3. Misspelling of three or more different common words 4. Lack of verb-subject agreement 5. Lack of antecedent-pronoun agreement (). Faulty use of tense 7. Misrclatcd modifiers 8. Slovenly penmanship 9. Inadequate or illogical paragraphing 10. Inadequate statement or develop] nt of main idea As a general rule, all instructors will follow this formula in grading them 1. A theme containing one of the above weaknesses will receive a grade no bettt :: C. 2. A theme containing two of the above weal ne s will receive a grade no 1 ter than D 3. A theme containing tin 4 the above we; ne s will receive a made of E. Instructors may occasionally be relu< nt to follow this formula in grading a theme- which h tional merit in style, idea, or i tent, but you woul do well to study all your textbook 1 . b at the ten particular writing faults ted abovi thus learn to avoid them in your own writing. B in mind that iiood id 5 deservt d pi n.

Final Examinations and Semester Grades

Final examinations in Freshman Rhetoric are marilv tests of prolieienc\ in English, Your i in Rhetoric 101, for example, will ey, t you

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examination paper to demonstrate ncJusiveh that ou can. and will henceforth, write ( t!\ ai ctively even undei pi mre, In * \oe. . < emestci A^\C. youi instructor do • not avri