Joshua D. Sosin grading rdg list exams
Notice	Grad students: Where grading is concerned (and much else too) no one should expect absolute consistency from one professor to another. This is how I grade Reading List Exams.
Procedure	I underline words / parts of words (if, say, tense or number or case are wrong or incorrectly construed but the word’s dictionary meaning is right) in the Greek that have been translated incorrectly. I squiggly underline words in the Greek that have been translated sub-optimally but are basically right. Come see me if you want to review afterwards
Scale	I assign a number, 1–5, to each passage; 1 is low, 5 high. 10-pt A-F (my grading scale) 5 Stellar: Nearly perfect command of grammar, syntax, sense and nuance. A+ 97-100 4 Good to very good: Excellent control of grammar and vocabulary. The translation may exhibit a few slips of vocabulary or infelicitous English, but the translator is in firm control of the text’s grammar and meaning. On par with expectations for in-class, prepared translations A 93-96 A- 90-92 3 ADEQUATE, a pass. The translation shows decent command of grammar and vocabulary and clear comprehension (evidently derived from the Greek) of the entire passage’s content. The translation may contain a few mistakes of grammar (matters overlooked rather than misunderstanding of fundamentals) and vocab (more obscure words missed, not basic vocabulary). Every sentence in the translation is coherent English. The translation falls somewhat below expectation for in-class, prepared translations B+ 87-89 B 83-86 2 Shows promise: The exam shows spotty command of grammar and vocab and/or faltering understanding of the passage’s content (some sentences may be a jumble). The translation contains frequent errors of grammar and vocabulary. A few sentences in the translation fall short of coherent English. The result may indicate that the student has not read the list or is not quite ready, or that the student recalls some of the content without being able to translate it accurately. B- 80-82 1 Grave difficulty: The translation shows weak command of grammar and vocab, poor understanding of the passage’s content. Several sentences in the translation are incoherent as English. C 7-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72
P/F	An Exam receives a passing mark if It contains no more than one passage with a mark of “1” It contains at least four passages with a mark of “3” or better Total points for a passing exam are 16 or more; thus, the lowest passing exam will have either four passages marked “3” and two marked “2” or five passages marked “3” and one marked “1”

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