Evaluation in HIST 431

A Contract Grading System

There are no major exams, no major term papers. The approach to assignments and grading is much more incremental than that, emphasizing modest assignments and reflective writing (principally response papers). This spreads the work out over the semester, but it also makes it exceedingly important (for both students and instructors) to keep up and stay on schedule.

The basic principle in contract grading is that in order to achieve a certain grade, you need to accumulate a certain number of points in the course of the semester. This means that while those with an aptitude for History may have an advantage, because they should score well on required work, those who do not have such aptitude for the subject can, to a large degree, make up for it by doing additional work. There are two good things about this basic scheme.

1. It values outcomes, achievement, more than raw talent. That’s the way it is in the so-called real world, after all.

2. It promotes a work ethic grounded in personal responsibility.

Contract Grading Scale	Letter Grade	Points Required
	A	450
	B	400
	C	350
	D	300

The table above stipulates the number of points required (out of 500 possible) to achieve a certain letter grade in the course. There are two types of points.

1. Hard points: points that have to be earned through performance of a specified, required activity. Nothing else can substitute for hard points.

2. Soft points: points earned through performance of other, individual activities. They count just as much as hard points, and you need a certain number of soft points to achieve the grade you want, but they do not substitute for hard points.

Hard Points (every item required)	Assignment		Points Possible
	Response Papers on Required Texts	Webb	20
		Sharp	20
		Isern	20
	Response Papers on Lectures	1 paper (10 points possible) for each of 9 lectures	90
	Participation	Attendance (4 points per class session)	100
		In-class & Weblog Discussion	50
	Folklore Project (two options)	Fall Supper Folklore Report	50
		Big Things Pop Culture Report
	Total Hard Points Possible		350

The table above shows how hard points are earned. Follow the links to find out more about earning points through response papers, participation, and projects. Note that there are due dates for response papers, as noted in the calendar. Hard points count for 350 points possible. Soft points count for 150 points possible.

Soft Points (any item of which can be repeated, with limits as stated)	Assignment	Points Possible
	Book Review	20
	Film Review (up to three submissions)	10
	Heritage Event (up to three submissions)	20
	Service Learning	20-60
	Heritage Site (up to three submissions)	20
	Oral History Report	50
	Additional Response Papers on Lectures	10
	Total Soft Points Possible	150

We need to avoid the problem of students turning in a glut of assignments at the end of the semester. They need to be spaced out through the term. Take this into account as you plan your work; do assignments early, take the pressure off yourself. As a baseline of prevention against end-of-term glut, however, we have certain simple ground rules for submission of assignments.

Response Papers on Texts	As noted in the calendar
Response Papers on Lectures	Within 1 week of conclusion of lecture
Assignments for Soft Points	No more than two submissions in any 7-day period
General Discussion (not meeting a specific assignment)	Join in any time!
Bonus for Early Birds	Compile 80 soft points by 1 November, and receive 10 bonus points to be added to your final total at end of term

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