Response to Literature Grading…
so far
A response to literature is a
different from the essays I am used to grading. So I wish I could explain exactly why I graded
one piece better than another. This is
the best explanation I have so far of what constitutes a proper response to
literature. Even with the break down,
there are still times when I just feel like the paper is one grade over
another.
We will discuss these before
the next response is written. I will
organize samples to show the students the differences.
100% Grade: A+
· These papers discussed the author’s style of writing,
how the writer crafted the story.
· Some analyzed the author’s use of characters
for a purpose and elements of plot for a purpose or effect.
· Some even suggested alternatives and discussed how a
change in the story would affect the story.
· They also made some personal connections
to the piece through specific references to the story.
95% Grade: A
· These papers were very good.
· These papers did what was asked: they responded to the
literature.
· They made connections to the piece which were clear
and referenced with examples.
· They explained those connections clearly.
· Some would mention theme. Some focused on characters. They tended to
mention literary terms.
· Their pieces contained few grammar distractions and varied
sentence structure.
90% Grade: B
· These papers were good.
· These papers tended to make more connections between
the text and themselves.
· They were a little shallow in their analysis
of the story.
· They were long enough, organized enough, and easy
enough to read.
· They had proper sentence structure.
· Some had small editing errors.
85% Grade: C+/B-
· This is a gut feeling area.
· This paper might have errors that pull it down.
· It might have content that pulls it up.
80% Grade: C
· Here is where all types of weaknesses are taken into
consideration.
· Some were short on details and connections.
· Some were weak on organization. They meandered through ideas to make the
piece longer.
· Some had sentence structure errors that should have
been basic by now.
· Some had grammar errors that distracted. Every time I have to make a correction, the
piece gets weaker.
· In short, these pieces are average for the grade.
75% Grade: D
· Students should not be scoring here.
· This is credit for doing the piece.
