A (-)

Mechanics: "A" papers exhibit no significant (but perhaps one or two minor) syntactical, grammatical, punctuation or format (i.e. citation) errors.

Analysis: "A" papers exhibit a sustained, consistent level of analysis appropriate to the linguistic, rhetorical, and thematic aspects of the work; they employ appropriate direct references (in the form of citation) to the primary work (and, in research papers, to secondary sources); they avoid whenever possible paraphrase, summary, or irrelevant generalizations. Essay and paragraph development are coherent and logical and explore the implications of a clearly stated thesis.

Style: "A" papers exhibit a mature and, ideally, graceful style, with a sense of decorum (i.e., appropriateness of diction and form) and contain no lapses in clarity. Sentence structure varies and word choice is unproblematic.
 
 

B (+/-)

Mechanics: "B" papers exhibit 2-3 significant syntactical, grammatical, or punctuation errors and may not always follow the appropriate format for citations.

Analysis: "B" papers exhibit a less sustained, less consistent level of analysis appropriate to the linguistic, rhetorical, and thematic aspects of the work; they may not always employ appropriate direct references (in the form of citation) to the primary work; they may descend on occasion to paraphrase, summary, or irrelevant generalization. Essay and paragraph development are generally coherent and logical, but may show occasional evidence of confused or faulty reasoning, disorganization, or incompletely substantiated interpretation. "B" papers generally, though, argue a thesis which is not banal and support that thesis with evidence.

Style: "B" papers sometimes exhibit a less mature and occasionally wooden style, characterized by infelicitous or imprecise phrasing, and may include occasional lapses in clarity or decorum (i.e., appropriateness of diction and form). Sometimes the sentence structure of a "B" paper does not vary much and word choice is occasionally problematic.

--A "B+" paper exhibits minor problems in only one of these three areas, while a "B-" paper may exhibit problems in more than one (though not all or to a pervasive degree).
 
 

C (+/-)

Mechanics: "C" papers may exhibit more, and more significant, syntactical, grammatical, and punctuation errors and may not follow the appropriate format for citation.

Analysis: "C" papers may exhibit a less consistent or less sustained level of analysis appropriate to the linguistic, rhetorical, and/or thematic aspects of the work; they may not employ appropriate direct references to the primary work; they may descend with too much frequency to paraphrase, summary, or irrelevant generalization. Essay and paragraph development may show evidence of confused or faulty reasoning, insufficient organization, or unsubstantiated interpretation. While a "C" paper generally has a thesis, that thesis may be banal or it may not have been consistently developed in all the paragraphs of the paper.

Style: "C" papers often exhibit an immature and often wooden style, characterized by infelicitous or imprecise phrasing, and may include multiple lapses in clarity and decorum (i.e., inappropriateness of diction and form). Sentence structure is often paratactic (i.e. lacks subordination) and word choice may often be problematic.

--A "C+ paper exhibits problems to a pervasive degree in only one of these three areas, while a "C-" paper may exhibit problems in all (though not to a pervasive degree).
 
 

D (+/-)

Mechanics: "D" papers exhibit pervasive and significant syntactical, grammatical, and punctuation errors and do not follow the appropriate format for citation.

Analysis: "D" papers may lack any attempt at analysis whatsoever or may exhibit a confused sense of the level of analysis appropriate to the linguistic, rhetorical, and/or thematic aspects of the work; they typically do not employ appropriate direct references (in the form of citation) to the primary work; they may descend pervasively to paraphrase, summary, or irrelevant generalization. Essay and paragraph development are generally incoherent or illogical (i.e., show evidence of confused or faulty reasoning, lack of organization, or unsubstantiated interpretation). There is often no clearly stated thesis.

Style: "D" papers exhibit almost no sense of style and a general lack of clarity and/or pervasive lapses in decorum (i.e., appropriateness of diction and form). Sentence structure is often paratactic (i.e. lacks subordination) and word choice may be pervasively problematic.

--A "D+ paper exhibits problems to a slightly less than pervasive degree in perhaps only two of these areas, while a "D-" paper may exhibit problems in all to a more or less pervasive degree. "D" (and "E") papers exhibit a level of writing inappropriate for 300-level course work.
 
 

E

Mechanics, Analysis, Style: Like the "D" paper only worse.
 
 

N.B. Late papers or papers below minimum length may be docked.