Description of Discussion and Participation Grades
A: Lively and informed participation, showing clear understanding of the sources and issues.
B: Solid participation with evidence of a careful reading of the sources.
C: Occasional participation with evidence of having consulted the readings
D: Present but not participating
0: Not present and no pre-arranged excused absence
Description of Source Comparison Paper Grades
A: An excellent paper. Identifies all the major and minor differences between sources. Well-organized and written, has very good explanations for why historians are presenting events and details differently based on close reading of similarities and differences between texts. Brings in good supporting examples from elsewhere in the sources (if indicated in assignment).
B: A good paper. Identifies all the major and minor differences between sources. Well-organized, but has weak explanations for why historians are presenting events and details differently, or does not make arguments directly based on specific details of the texts.
C: A fair paper. Identifies the major differences, but misses minor details. Paper may summarize or paraphrase without much analysis of the texts. Only makes broad or fairly obvious conclusions, without arguing from the differences in the texts themselves. There may be mechanical problems or the paper may be under-length.
D: A poor paper. Has weak arguments, poor organization, serious mechanical problems, or is under-length. Shows some evidence of engagement with the texts, but may overlook important differences or fail to provide any analysis. Much of the paper may be summary or block quotes.
F: An unacceptable paper. Shows limited knowledge or understanding of the texts, misses key differences, does little to explain them. Paper suffers from poor organization, serious mechanical problems, and is under-length or padded with block quotes. Papers that use unauthorized sources receive an F by default.
0: Paper not turned in or plagiarized.
Description of Research Paper Grades
A: An excellent paper. Has a clear thesis, with a thorough knowledge of the sources, both ancient and modern, and demonstrates the student’s own creativity and ability to engage them and contribute to scholarly debates.
B: A good paper. Has an unclear or weak thesis, but is well organized with good knowledge of the sources. The student may not be fully engaged with the ancient and/or modern sources, or summarize them too much without demonstrating their own creativity.
C: A fair paper. Has an unclear or weak thesis, and may not be well organized or show full knowledge of the sources. The student may summarize one or two sources too much, without showing their own creativity or engaging the ancient sources. There may be significant mechanical problems or the paper may be under length.
D: A poor paper. Has a weak or no thesis, poor organization, serious mechanical problems, or is under length. The student shows some evidence of research or engagement with the topic, but may overlook important sources or issues, or mainly just summarizes one or two sources. Much of the paper may be simple summary or block quotes.
F: An unacceptable paper. Has a weak or no thesis, limited or no knowledge of sources or issues, poor organization, serious mechanical problems, and is under length. Bibliography is weak, and there may be padding with long block quotes.
0: Paper not turned in or plagiarized.
The use of online "sources" such as Wikipedia or personal webpages is not permitted, and will result in a deduction of 50 points from the final paper grade. Web versions of printed sources, such as the journals on J-Stor, the online Cambridge Ancient History, and the translations on Lacus Curtius, are acceptable. If in doubt about the validity of a source, ask!
Lateness policy: Late papers will not be accepted, except in the case of documented emergencies.
Last updated 8/21/2012