User:RMcHale

the game

ps

Regarding Grades and Adjustments

Dear Parents and Students,

As you know, I believe that the writing process is learned gradually, with frequent revision. Yet, we must have grades at the end of each quarter, even though students are still in the midst of their development. I do not wish to penalize students with low grades which should not reflect their progress by the end of the semester. The majority of each student’s grade in this course is based on his written analysis of and reaction to the literature we read, and I have already seen considerable improvement from many of you through our process of feedback and revision. I expect you to improve during this semester.

Therefore, I have requested, and the Oratory Prep administration has agreed, to an unusual adjustment in quarterly grades. At the end of the second quarter, students will have the writing portions of their grades (formal essays and think papers, which are 70% of the grade) for the second quarter also be used for redoing their first quarter grades, and the first quarter grades will be adjusted accordingly on their report cards. This gives students an opportunity to pull up their averages while improving their skills. Here is a theoretical example of grades for Oratory Student:

First Quarter scores:

Categories               Avg. Pts.

Formal Essay (50% of grade)       68    34 Think Papers (20% of grade)       75    15 Video Dialectic (10% of grade)   90      9 Vocabulary (10% of grade)       90       9 Presentation of Ideas (10% of grade)   80       8

Quarterly Grade               75

If that student improves his writing so that the Formal Essay and Think Paper grades for the second quarter are 92 and 90 respectively, his first quarter grade will be recalculated as follows:

Formal Essay (50% of grade)       92    46 Think Papers (20% of grade)       90    18 Video Dialectic (10% of grade)   90      9 Vocabulary (10% of grade)       90       9 Presentation of Ideas (10% of grade)   80       8

New First Quarter Grade           90

Therefore, continue working and improving with renewed dedication and hope.