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Final Grades (Posted 14 May 98)

Spring 98 course 37.210.01, "Latin America: History, Art, Literature"

Instructor: Dr Jack Child, email: jchild@american.edu

These grades use the pseudonym you submitted. (If you forgot yours, give me a call at 885-2385). The first item after your name is the letter grade generated by my computer gradebook program. If there is also a grade in parenthesis it represents a "bump up" to a somewhat higher grade due to extra credit. I did not lower any grades. The numerical items after the letter grades are (in order): Overall course grade (100%); Midterm Exam (100 points, weight 20%); Quizzes (100 points, weight 10%); Museum Paper (100 points, weight 10%); Computer Exercise (100 points, weight 10%); Painter report (10 points, weight 10%); Participation (15 points, weight 15%); Final Exam (100 points, weight 25%).

Note that although the grade of "A+" does not exist at American University, grade inflation leads us to use it here to discriminate between the very best and the very good students.

Cutoffs: 97 and above=A+; 93-96=A; 90-92=A-; 87-89=B+; 83-86=B; 80-82=B-; 77-79=C+; 73-76=C; 70-72=C-; 60-69=D; 59 and below=F.

After the table below you will find a copy of the "Your Grades" memo which formed part of your syllabus. If you are unhappy with a grade, please re-read this memo and honestly answer the question, "Which category do I fit into"?

Adriana, Adriana, B (Bumped to B+) 85.1 88 90 7.5 87 95 10 91

Ananda, Ananda, B- (Bumped to B) 80.1 72 80 8.5 97 95 11 76

B'Gosh, B'Gosh, D 64.4 55 51.7 8.5 87 90 8 56

Bare, Care, B (Bumped to B+) 86.6 86 86.7 9.5 97 100 10 86

Beatriz, Beatriz, B- 81.6 76 86.7 9 97 80 10 84

Betty, Betty, C+ 78.6 73 84 8 83 90 8 89

Bono, Bono, B (Bumped to B+) 86.3 90 88 9 93 90 10 89

Chagas, Chagas, B (Bumped to B+) 84.1 83 80 9 100 85 12 80

Chiara, Chiara, C 74.3 88 97.5 8 90 75 8 58

Chucu, Chucu, A- (Bumped to A) 92.3 95 90 9.5 93 95 15 84

Diddy, P., B- 80.6 86 72 9 97 90 12 66

Fraggle, Fraggle, C+ 77.7 83 88.3 10 83 90 8 68

Gerta, Gerta, A- 90.5 84 90 9 87 95 14 94

Gosia, Gosia, B (Bumped to B+) 86.1 79 95 9.5 93 100 9 92

Harnish, Paul, B+ (Bumped to A-) 89.2 94 91.7 10 100 95 12 79

Hawk, Hawk, C+ (Bumped to B-) 79.5 80 82 9 93 95 8 78

Heaven, Heaven, B- (Bumped to B) 80.9 82 80 8.5 90 85 10 82

Holly, Holly, A 95.5 91 96 10 97 100 15 92

Kaya, Kaya, B+ (Bumped to A-) 88.7 80 92 9.5 97 100 12 89

Kelly, J, B 85.8 87 81.7 10 87 100 11 82

Langaea, Langaea, D (Bumped to C-) 68.8 83 80 9 87 0 11 62

Lucy, Lucy, C 75.1 71 76 9.5 90 80 8 75

Lynn, Lynn, B+ (Bumped to A-) 87.6 82 96 9.5 93 100 14 75

Mika, Mika, B 86.0 88 81.7 9 90 95 13 79

Molly, Molly, A 93.3 88 100 10 97 100 12 96

Princess, Princess, D (Bumped to C-) 61.9 40 73.3 9 83 90 9 45

Roby, Roby, B (Bumped to B+) 84.4 84 91.7 9 97 85 9 89

Rothko, Rothko, B- (Bumped to B) 82.7 80 74 10 70 100 10 89

Seuss, Dr, A- (Bumped to A) 91.3 89 95 10 90 90 15 84

Shorty, Shorty, B- (Bumped to B+) 81.6 80 83.3 9 93 90 10 80

Snez, Snez, D (Bumped to C) 69.9 62 68 9 80 85 8 69

Spice, Spice, C (Bumped to B-) 75.6 65 73.3 9 90 90 10 73

Stretch, Stretch, B+ 87.7 93 85 10 103 100 11 77

Taurus, Taurus, C 73.9 75 81.7 7 87 85 9 70

Teresa, Teresa, A 95.7 93 93.3 8.5 100 100 15 97

Twentyeight, Nineteen, A- (Bumped to A) 91.2 95 85 10 90 100 12 91

Walter, Walter, C (Bumped to B-) 76.6 70 81.7 9 97 90 9 71

Wilma, Wilma, B- 80.1 84 77.5 9 90 90 8 82

Wolf, Wolf, A- (Bumped to A) 90.7 92 98.3 10 97 95 10 93

SUBJECT: Your grades

I would like to share with you some characteristics I have observed over the years which can be associated with certain levels of grades.

Students who get top grades (A, A-, B+) generally:

Have a sense of excitement over the discovery and sharing of ideas and knowledge.

Turn in high-quality written work which reflects careful research, good planning, well thought-out arguments, originality, and freshness. They stay within stated page limits. Their bibliographies are solid and their footnotes carefully used. Their final product is typed and readable.

Complete all assigned readings (required and recommended) on time, and reflect this in their exams, written work, and class participation. They review carefully and productively.

Attend all classes, and offer an explanation voluntarily if they ever are absent. They make up any work they miss if absent.

Participate actively and enthusiastically in class discussions. They ask questions on a regular basis, and their ideas are original and stimulating. They challenge the conventional wisdom. They summarize each author's principal argument and their reaction to it (note cards are good).

Consider doing an extra credit project, and/or the "Community Service Learning Project".

Come by my office every once in a while, even when there is no problem or specific question.

Students who get middle grades (B, B-, C+, C) generally:

Turn in acceptable written work. They meet deadlines or explain why, and watch their bibliographies and footnotes. Their work is readable and typed.

Complete all of the assigned readings and most of the recommended ones.

Attend most classes, and explain excessive absences.

Participate in class discussions, and ask occasional questions.

Come by my office if there is a problem.

Students who get low and failing grades (C-, D, F) generally:

Don't turn in their assigned work, turn it in late without an adequate explanation, or prior permission. Their work is of poor quality and shows inadequate research, documentation, thought and originality. It is poorly presented (untidy and handwritten).

Complete only part of the required readings and none of the recommended.

Cut many classes without any explanation. No make-up work is attempted.

Are passive in class and avoid participation. When called on, are not familiar with the material. Ask no questions, take poor notes, and accept new ideas and opinions without challenging them.

Avoid coming by my office, even when there is a problem.