Folks,
Here's the ENGL0301 Grading rubric. All students enrolled in 0301 take the 'Exit Exam'. For most classes this is done in two 1-hr. classes (same as the regular classtimes). The first class they pre-write in a little blue exam book. The second class they type, format, & proof. The exams are then graded by a group of English 0301 Instructors who gather in a classroom. Each exam is scored according to the rubric below by 2 graders (neither of whom is to see the other's grade). If there is a wild discrepancy in the grading a third instructor will grade the exam and the higher 2 scores will be counted.
Exams, blue books, and scores are then returned to the class instructors who enter the grades. Those who fail the exit exam receive an "IP" no matter their grade for the course up to that time.
Those whose exam scores are 'borderline' are reviewed taking into account their work throughout the course and may end up passing.
Here's the rubric:
English 0301 Exit Exam Rubric & Scoring Guidelines

4 A well-formed essay that effectively communicates a whole message to a specified audience.
s a unified and developed topic maintained throughout the essay
s a clearly stated thesis
s controlled development of ideas; clear, specific, and relevant supporting details
s effective sentence structure, free of errors
s precise and careful word choice
s mastery of mechanical conventions, such as spelling and punctuation

3 An adequately formed essay that attempts to communicate a message to a specified audience.
s clear focus and purpose
s partially developed supporting details
s ambiguous, incomplete, or partially ineffective organization
s minor errors in sentence structure, usage, and word choice
s some mechanical errors, such as spelling and punctuation

2 A partially developed essay in which the characteristics of effective written communication are only partially formed.
s unclear statement of purpose
s lack of focus on the main idea
s largely incomplete or unclear development and/or organization
s poorly structured sentences with noticeable and distracting errors
s imprecise word choice and usage
s lack of control of mechanical conventions, such as spelling and punctuation

1 An inadequately formed essay that fails to communicate a complete message.
s inappropriate language and style for the given purpose or audience
s no clear statement of a main idea
s inconsistent or ineffectual supporting detail
s ineffective organization
s ineffective sentence structure
s imprecise word choice and usage
s lack of control of mechanical conventions, such as spelling and punctuation


IMPORTANT: Instructors do NOT score their own students’ exams. Instead, two other English 0301 instructors will each read the exam and assign a score based on the rubric above. Half point increments are permitted. The scores are combined, and the student must receive a combined score of 5 or higher in order to pass the exit exam. If a student receives a 4 or 4.5, the student’s instructor may jury him/her out of the course based upon the student’s portfolio. This is at the instructor’s discretion.

***Students are required to submit a portfolio to the instructor before taking the exam.