Sample Blank Grade Contract

Name ____________________________________________

SS# ____________________________________________

Your Signature: _______________________________________________

Instructor Signature: __________________________________________

 

Portfolio

Grading for this course follows a portfolio style in which you contract with the instructor for what assignments will comprise your final grade. For each assignment that you turn in, you must include a copy of your contract. At the end of the semester you should turn in a binder that includes:

1. A copy of your contract, approved by the instructor, as the cover sheet for your portfolio. This contract should be attached to every assignment you turn in. 

2. A copy of each assignment, exam, your journal, etc., as specified by your contract; include an approved prospectus where relevant.

3. A participation section that includes
A) All of your in class participation worksheets and writings
B) Any makeup or extra credit work.
C) Documentation of excused absence for any makeup work.

Mandatory Assignments

Participation and Attendance: Mandatory (weight 10%)
Attendance Policy: This class is based on a collaborative learning style in which attendance and participation are essential to the learning process. While attendance is not mandatory for the class, it certainly will affect your performance in the class. Class roll will be taken in each class by signing a class roll sheet to record your attendance. When final grades are calculated, attendance will become a factor in final decisions about borderline grades. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have signed the sheet on the days that you attend. You may not have someone else sign the roll sheet for you. 
Participation: Throughout the term there will be several in-class exercises, brief writing assignments, and homework assignments. These participations will be graded on a pass-fail basis only. You will receive participation points for each exercise in which you participate. Your participation grade will be equal to whatever percentage you earned of the total possible participation points. Participation points will vary based on the nature of the assignment. While most assignments are worth one or two points, some are worth more.


MakeUp Assignments: Should you have a documented excused absence (as defined by LSU policy), you are entitled to make up lost participation points. To makeup the absence, you must write a one-page essay that reviews and analyzes one text in light of one concept we have learned in class. Texts can include films, books, fashion shows, malls, buildings, events, etc. Participations from unexcused absences cannot be made up. Makeup assignments must be approved by the instructor and must be completed within one week of the absence.
In-Class Presentation: You are required to make an in-class presentation of ONE of your variable assignments. Class presentations will be delivered during the last class period. Class presentations are worth a total of 10 participation points.

Contract: Mandatory (weight 5%)
You are required to turn in a completed contract specifying which variable assignments you would like to include in your portfolio and how much weight you want the assignments to be worth. Your contract grade will be dropped by one letter grade for each day it is late. You must turn in THREE copies of this contract for approval by the instructor. Once your contract is approved, you will keep one copy, the instructor will keep one copy, and one will be a working copy that you will accompany each assignment you submit. This copy will be returned to you when each assignment is graded and returned. This working copy of your contract must accompany your portfolio at the end of the semester. Your contract must be approved by the instructor. Any changes in the contract must also be approved by the instructor. You can change your contract ONCE during the semester. Changes cannot be made after the date of the midterm exam. Note that this is a PASS FAIL ASSIGNMENT. You earn an automatic A- for turning the contract in on time and complete. You earn an automatic 0 if you fail to meet this deadline.

Variable Assignments

This option can be used for a midterm and/or final exam. The exam will be a take-home essay exam.

Journals (weight 15%)
Each week you will be given several journal questions; you must answer at least two questions for the week on this list. Journal entries that are not relevant to the class will not be graded. To keep parity between students, each entry must be at least 150 words (about one handwritten page or 2/3 typed page). Journals will be graded purely on a quantitative basis: 24 - a; 23-21 = b; 20-18 = c; 17-15 = d; less than 15 = f.

The following assignments have variable weights depending on the page length of the assignment: 5 pages=15%; 7 pages=20%; 10 pages=25%; 15 pages=30%.
Note: Each essay must incorporate at least 3 quotes/citations from course readings.

Critical Essay (Book Review; Scholarly Journal Article Review; Film Review; Television Series Review; Analysis of Current Event; etc.)
1. Select, read, analyze, and evaluate a text that is relevant to issues discussed in class. Your text must be approved by your instructor. Your text may be fiction or non-fiction.
2. Write an essay (typed) in which you
a. Introduce the text by arguing for its relevance or appropriateness to the class and justifying its importance for analysis.
b. Briefly summarize and describe the basic content of the text 
c. Analyze and critique the text in light of at least three of the critical concepts, themes, or issues we learned in class. Be sure that you
1. Define and explain the concept that you use
2. Cite the relevant class readings that you use
3. Provide sufficient examples from your selected text to
illustrate your points
4. Evaluate the text from one of the perspectives discussed in class 
d. Conclude by summarizing your main points, and providing your recommendation, assessment, or judgement about the text.

Interview (10%, 7 pages)
Select a person who is willing to interview with you and arrange time(s) to meet. You must select someone who comes from a substantially different background than yours (i.e., different ethnicity, sexual orientation, race, generation, religion, etc.). Before the interview, construct a list of questions designed to evoke the person's life experiences, world view, self-concept, and understanding of their gendered identity. Be sure to tape record AND take notes during the interview. After the interview, review your notes and your tape. Then create a narrative that includes (1) the oral history of your interviewer's experiences of their gender that reflects some of the key issues we have discussed in class, and (2) your reflections on the experience. Your essay should include brief description about the person to give your audience a sense of who she is as well as apply at least three significant themes or issues from class material and incorporate at least 3 quotes from class readings. Attach to the back of your assignment your list of questions and your transcription of your interview.

Gender Autobiography (10%, 7 pages) 
Write a compelling autobiography that shares your understanding of yourself and your identity as it is gendered, your self-concept, etc. in light of the significant gender ideologies in your life. Your essay must be interesting, relevant, and must discuss at least three of the critical concepts, themes or issues we have used in class. Your essay must incorporate at least 3 quotes/references from class readings.

Creative Project
Assignment and weight to be determined in consultation with instructor. For this assignment, you must include a written prospectus describing the project and detailing the criteria you want used in evaluating your grade for the project. The prospectus must include documentation, a rationale for the project and its relevance to the issues and content of the course, and identify the ways in which the concept applies course material.



Grading Criteria for All Written Assignments:
1. Ability to draw concepts from the reading material into your essay.
2. Ability to demonstrate understanding of concepts from course readings, lectures and discussions.
3. Significance and appropriateness of concepts chosen for discussion in the essays.
4. Fit between concepts and illustrations.
5. Specificity and amount of support material from readings, lectures and discussions to illustrate the concepts
6. Thoughtfulness and insightfulness of arguments.
7. Coherence--ability to organize ideas and create an argument.
8. Writing mechanics.