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Not a fan of grading journalism, but you've gotta figure out a way to make it work ...
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Grading High Grading High School JournalismSchool JournalismSimplifying the Simplifying the least- least- satisfying satisfying thing I have to thing I have to do in my do in my journalism journalism programprogram
A syllabus excerpt …A syllabus excerpt …
““To be perfectly honest, grading To be perfectly honest, grading students in journalism is the students in journalism is the least satisfying thing I do. Work least satisfying thing I do. Work hard, and you will do well (an A hard, and you will do well (an A or A-minus). Fail (which I define or A-minus). Fail (which I define as taking thoughtful, appropriate as taking thoughtful, appropriate risks that didn’t work out all risks that didn’t work out all that well) and you will still that well) and you will still receive an A or A-minus. Screw up receive an A or A-minus. Screw up and things will get ugly fast.”and things will get ugly fast.”
Failing vs. screwing Failing vs. screwing upup Failing = going outside the box, but Failing = going outside the box, but it didn’t work out terribly wellit didn’t work out terribly well– Well done! Keep trying, and we’ll figure Well done! Keep trying, and we’ll figure out how to do it better and make it work!out how to do it better and make it work!
– Or we’ll kill the idea (but we had to try Or we’ll kill the idea (but we had to try it out to figure out it was a failure)it out to figure out it was a failure)
Screwing up = cutting corners, not Screwing up = cutting corners, not following guidelines, etc.following guidelines, etc.– You took some other path than “going out You took some other path than “going out and doing good journalism.”and doing good journalism.”
Consequences of Consequences of screwing upscrewing up Some screw-ups are serious enough that Some screw-ups are serious enough that they warrant the “death penalty” for a they warrant the “death penalty” for a first offense – you can be immediately first offense – you can be immediately dropped from the course with a grade of dropped from the course with a grade of withdraw/fail. They include:withdraw/fail. They include:
Making up quotes.Making up quotes. Misrepresenting yourself or the newspaper.Misrepresenting yourself or the newspaper. Plagiarism Plagiarism
– NOTE: You need to explain what plagiarism NOTE: You need to explain what plagiarism means, and share some examplesmeans, and share some examples
Rights vs. Rights vs. ResponsibilityResponsibility ““ANY BEHAVIORANY BEHAVIOR that puts the Gazette’s that puts the Gazette’s freedom in jeopardy or otherwise freedom in jeopardy or otherwise sullies its reputation will not be sullies its reputation will not be tolerated. tolerated.
““TELLING THE TRUTH should be the most-TELLING THE TRUTH should be the most-important value in journalism – if you important value in journalism – if you have have ANY DOUBTANY DOUBT as to whether a course as to whether a course of action is appropriate, of action is appropriate, ASK FIRSTASK FIRST!”!”
How I gradeHow I grade
I use the district online I use the district online grading system (Aeries)grading system (Aeries)
Everything is pointsEverything is points Many of my grades are 100 Many of my grades are 100 percent, 50 percent or nothing percent, 50 percent or nothing – For example, meeting various For example, meeting various deadlines for stories, think sheets, deadlines for stories, think sheets, page dummies, etc.page dummies, etc.
Three or four of these 50-point Three or four of these 50-point grades per student per grades per student per publishing cyclepublishing cycle
Bigger gradesBigger grades A 200-point grade given by student editors, in A 200-point grade given by student editors, in consultation with meconsultation with me– Overall performance for the issue – deadlines, Overall performance for the issue – deadlines, quality, improvement, initiative, cooperation, etc.quality, improvement, initiative, cooperation, etc.
A 200-point grade each issue for submitting a A 200-point grade each issue for submitting a self-evaluationself-evaluation– Includes attaching all think sheets and rough Includes attaching all think sheets and rough drafts, and a list of where stories appeared and drafts, and a list of where stories appeared and explanations of any extenuating circumstancesexplanations of any extenuating circumstances
A 200-point grade each 18 weeks for a A 200-point grade each 18 weeks for a portfolio/clip book and/or deeper self-portfolio/clip book and/or deeper self-reflectionreflection
An all-or-nothing grade, worth more than 10 An all-or-nothing grade, worth more than 10 percent, for producing advertising revenue OR percent, for producing advertising revenue OR making advertising sales callsmaking advertising sales calls
Things I’ve changed Things I’ve changed over the yearsover the years No busy work unless a student violates No busy work unless a student violates my “don’t waste time” guidelinemy “don’t waste time” guideline– Reviews of articles from the professional Reviews of articles from the professional press, reviews/critiques of other school press, reviews/critiques of other school newspapers, etc. – valuable, but no longer newspapers, etc. – valuable, but no longer requiredrequired
It’s much simpler than it used to be It’s much simpler than it used to be – Fewer grades, more all-or-nothing grades, Fewer grades, more all-or-nothing grades, etc.etc.
BOTTOM LINE? Grading newspaper BOTTOM LINE? Grading newspaper students is the most unpleasant thing students is the most unpleasant thing I have to do in my journalism program, I have to do in my journalism program, so I’ve tried to make it easyso I’ve tried to make it easy
WHAT ELSE CAN WE ADD?WHAT ELSE CAN WE ADD?
If we have time …If we have time …
Work on your grading policy.Work on your grading policy. Writer your letter to your principal.Writer your letter to your principal. Perhaps write a letter to your Perhaps write a letter to your facultyfaculty
Chat with others about grading Chat with others about grading issues/challenges/policies.issues/challenges/policies.
EatEat ReflectReflect EatEat NapNap EatEat Etc.Etc.
