Essay on Analysis of Student’s Work: Class Grading System

Grading system is one of the key elements used in estimating students’ work during the whole school year. It is very important that both teachers and students understand how a certain grading system works in order to avoid any conflicts. First of all a grading system should reflect students’ performance. It should show how good or bad students’ work while fulfilling various task. Usually grading systems focus only on the results of work, however, it is also necessary to pay attention weather a work was turned in at the right time.

I propose to divide the school year into four equally in length terms, during which students will be studying and showing their knowledge, and at the end of each term test in every subject will be taken. Students’ activity should be estimated regularly at every lesson, by means of “pluses” and “minuses”. A “plus” would mean that a student was active and prepared for the lesson; a “minus” would mean that a student wasn’t prepared for the lesson when asked by a teacher. “Plus-minus” and “minus-plus” would be used for students who were prepared improperly. After several lessons a regular test (multiple-choice or quiz) should be offered to students to assess what they have learned during this period of time. Such tests might be omitted when a teacher had time to estimate knowledge of every student during the lesson. At the end of each term teachers should develop a final test allowing to estimate the knowledge of students for the whole term. It should weight about 20-25 percent of the total grade. The information concerning student’s grades must be registered in the computer, with the help of which a final grade would be made. For example, 25 percent of the final grade should be taken from class work, 25 percent of the final grade should be taken from homework. The third quarter of the final grade should be counted with the help of tests during the term, while the last quarter of final grade would be counted with the help of final test at the end of each term. Then, at the end of the year all four grades should be summed up and divided by four. Students who were absent must fulfill all homework tasks, take quizzes and make up for the work in class by fulfilling additional tasks. Late students’ works should be graded in a different way depending on how late the work was turned in. The later a work is turned in the lower maximum grade a student would be able to get. For example, if the work was due this Monday, next Monday a student who turns in his/her work would be able to receive a maximum of 80 percent of the original grade announced.

I would like to offer a numerical grading system starting with 1 and ending in 8. With the help of this grading system, student’s work would be estimated according to several criteria: propriety of fulfillment, time of completion and creativity. Grades 1 and 2 would mean that a student failed to fulfill the task. Grade 3 would mean that a student fulfilled 35-50 percent of work. Grade 4 would mean that a student fulfilled 50-70 percent of work. Grade 5 would mean that a student fulfilled 70-90 percent of work. If a student fulfilled 90-100 percent of work but didn’t arrange it properly he/she would get 6. If a student successfully completed the task and arranged everything in a proper way he/she will get 7. Grade 8 would be given to a student who properly fulfilled the whole task and used some elements of creativity.

In conclusion, this system will encourage students to get ready for every lesson, be active when working in class and turn in their works in time.

Bibliography

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