When I assign grades to your portfolios, I will assess your work using a standard grade scale of A, B, C, D, F.  To determine the grades for your portfolios, I use the following guidelines.  Keep in mind the basic meanings of the grades: 

A-level writing is excellent writing. 
B-level writing is good writing. 
C-level writing is OK writing. 
D-level writing is somewhat OK but still needs work. 
F-level writing is back-to-the-drawing-board writing.

1. Ability to follow the assignment
2. Focus and content
3. Reasoning and analysis/development and organization
4. Introduction/opening
5. Supporting examples and details
6. Summary/conclusion
7. Language and style
8. Grammar and mechanics

A-level writing has the following qualities: 

1. follows the assignment completely and excels in its accomplishment.
2. has excellent focus; clearly makes a logical point.
3. has clear reasoning and analysis; highly substantive development of ideas and details; well-organized and knowledgeable.
4. has a very clear, concise, and articulate introduction--a real attention grabber.
5. supports ideas richly with effective, concrete, specific details.
6. has a logical, well-stated, and highly convincing conclusion.
7. uses language confidently, proficiently, and professionally, coordinating and subordinating ideas effectively.
8. has no errors (or one or two errors that only an English instructor would notice).

B-level writing has the following qualities: 

1. follows the assignment well.
2. has good focus; makes a logical point.
3. has good reasoning and analysis; good substance and good, clear development of ideas; good organization and paragraphing of ideas and details.
4. has a clearly stated and well-articulated introduction.
5. supports ideas well with specific, concrete details and appropriate examples.
6. has a logical and well-connected conclusion.
7. uses language clearly and appropriately, coordinating and subordinating ideas well.
8. has a couple of consistent errors (one to three minor errors, none that hinder communication or distract).

C-level writing has the following qualities: 

1. follows the assignment.
2. is focused; makes a logical point although weakly.
3. has adequate reasoning and analysis; adequate substance/development f ideas; adequate paragraphing and organizing.
4. has a comprehensible and satisfactory introduction, but it has some weak areas.
5. supports ideas somewhat with specific details and/or examples.
6. has a logical and connected conclusion s, but it has some weak areas.
7. uses language adequately, coordinating and subordinating ideas sufficiently.
8. has a couple of errors that distract and/or hinder communication.  (more than three such errors per page).

D-level writing has the following qualities. 

1. follows most parts of the assignment.
2. is focused, but makes a weak point.
3. has superficial or general reasoning; problems in paragraph unity and organization or ideas/details.
4. has a comprehensible introduction, but it is confusing and not clearly articulated.
5. has some general or superficial supporting details; needs to be more specific.
6. has a minimally comprehensible conclusion, which may or may not be well-connected to the body of the paper.
7. occasionally uses language inappropriately, seldom coordinating and subordinating ideas accurately.
8. has errors that distract and interfere with reader comprehension. (more than six per page).

F-level writing has the following qualities: 

1. follows the general idea or parts of the assignment.
2. has focus problems;  it is hard to tell what the point is.
3. has vague or faulty reasoning and/or little analysis; paragraph and coherence problems.
4. has a very confusing introduction that is difficult to comprehend.
5. has few if any details; little or no relevant support.
6. has a conclusion, but it is not stated in a logical, comprehensible manner.
7. uses language inadequately, generally failing to coordinate and subordinate ideas.
8. has sufficient errors to hinder communication (more than ten per page).

        Also keep in mind that it is my policy not to accept late papers.  (It's better to turn in a "back-to-the-drawing-board" paper.)  This policy is negotiable only in the event of emergencies.  A score of zero will also be given to any assignment that has been plagiarized.