SM: Report Grades

Hello Students:

The grades for Report #1 are now in the system.

We will go over some specific problems with the papers. The biggest issue was simply with specifics, a fact I mentioned in several lectures. This is an argument paper; some approached this as strictly an opinion paper.

I will be posting the Top Papers (pending approval from those students) so you can measure up.

A quick note: there were a few folks who did not write 2 full pages. I am lax if you miss by a line or two. If you miss by 2/3 of the page, you received no credit. As I mentioned on day one: I teach to the highest common denominator. It is not ethically sound to demand excellence and hard work, but then reward those who try to do less than the minimum.

This is not meant to be a punishment. This is simply the fairest, most ethical way I know to run a classroom. I would not be doing my job if I allowed you to slide by.

That said: one bad grade will not destroy you in my class. If you continue to do the reading responses and focus on the next few papers, your grade will increase. We have few points in the class so far. You are not doomed.

Doomed is for those who quit.