| Students should be aware that mere completion of any assignment does not merit a grade of 'A'. That grade is reserved for exceptional work. In an attempt to de-mystify the marking process, here is a basic rundown of what each letter grade signifies for undergraduate level written assignments (see also Western's grade definitions):
| A+ |
The paper is exceptional in both thought and expression. It is virtually flawless in execution and organized in such a way as to be persuasive without question. (Normal percentage mark: 90-95%). |
| A |
The paper goes above and beyond the requirements of the assignment. It presents a coherent argument with eloquence and supports that argument with pertinent evidence. The paper addresses a particularly challenging topic or brings an unusual and enlightening perspective to a familiar theme. (Normal percentage mark: 80-90%). |
| B |
The paper satisfies the requirements for the assignment, and does so well. The paper states clearly the topic that it will address, offers a coherent thesis and defends it with a logical, orderly argument. The direction of the paper is apparent from beginning to end. Problems of content, style, syntax, or mechanics are few. The paper may present engaging, original ideas clumsily or treat a mundane subject with stylistic finesse (Normal percentage mark: 70-79%). |
| C |
The paper satisfies the requirements for the assignment, but does not go beyond those requirements. The paper states a thesis, offers an argument and shows evidence of understanding the primary or secondary sources. The argument may not be sufficiently developed or may be supported by insufficient citation of specific passages. The paper may exhibit uneven pacing in developing the argument. Finally, the prose may exhibit frequent mechanical problems. (Normal percentage mark: 60-69%). |
| D |
The paper accomplishes something, although it may be irrelevant to the assigned topic. The paper may be too short and/or pad with unnecessary block quotations. It may be descriptive and summarize rather than present a thesis and argue for a position; and it may suffer from serious mechanical and proofreading errors. (Normal percentage mark: 50-59%). |
| F |
The paper achieves nothing significant. This grade is normally assigned in the following circumstances:
- the paper has been plagiarized (mark: 0%)
- the paper is not handed in, or is handed in so late that late penalty deductions have reduced the grade to zero (mark: 0%)
- the paper shows no evidence of consultation of primary or secondary sources. (maximum mark: 55%).
- the stylistic elements (grammar, spelling) and/or the content of the paper are so far below university level standards that it fails to meet the requirements as set forth by the university. (Normal percentage mark: 30-50%; maximum mark: 55%).
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| Papers will be considered as being on-time up until 4:30 p.m. on the due date. After that time a late penalty of 5% per 24 hours (including weekends) will be applied to the overall mark. |
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