tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28553339.post2720477615600345057..comments2023-07-17T05:07:53.982-07:00Comments on clashing hats: Getting back to work: assignments for large classesHilairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09033740943173352249noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28553339.post-27940313304491897882007-07-30T09:56:00.000-07:002007-07-30T09:56:00.000-07:00I'm actually trying something similar to Hypatia's...I'm actually trying something similar to Hypatia's second suggestion in one of my classes this semester. Students will need to write a weekly paper, but I'm going to collect them randomly during the semester and then the entire portfolio at the end.... It's complicated to explain in a comment, but if you'd like to see the assignment, drop me an email and I'll be happy to forward along what I've come up with.Dr. Crazyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12457967076373916629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28553339.post-50179754534417164162007-07-29T19:42:00.000-07:002007-07-29T19:42:00.000-07:00I should add that improving their writing would be...I should add that improving their writing would benefit me, because in the end I make them write a 7 page compare and contrast paper that is similar in structure to (but slightly more complicated than) the weekly summaries. So they hopefully see a link between the weekly things and a big grade.ajowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11594506673794844413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28553339.post-10498372883751912572007-07-29T18:01:00.000-07:002007-07-29T18:01:00.000-07:00If you don't already design and use a grading rubr...If you don't already design and use a grading rubric/checklist for each assignment. It makes comments easier and I think it makes things quicker and more consistent for me.<BR/><BR/>In the large humanities class I used to teach students did a research paper, but it was broken down into four parts: brainstorm, proposal, annotated bibliography and final paper. This meant that by the time the paper came around I was so familiar with what each student was doing that it was easier to grade than something I'd never seen before. It was also a good balance between things I really had to pay attention to (proposal, final paper) and things I didn't (bibliography, brainstorm). It also resulted in better papers. An undergrad TA could grade bibliography annotations with some good guidance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28553339.post-36375785122692220692007-07-29T11:12:00.000-07:002007-07-29T11:12:00.000-07:00Love these ideas, Hypatia - especially the second ...Love these ideas, Hypatia - especially the second one. I've known several people who have done such things...I think with som success. Some of their variations have struck me as really ballsy and harsh - but yours seems somehow kinder to them. I think this is a great route to try.<BR/><BR/>Thanks!Hilairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09033740943173352249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28553339.post-78769949614498350682007-07-29T10:44:00.000-07:002007-07-29T10:44:00.000-07:00One thing I've used (somewhat successfully) in the...One thing I've used (somewhat successfully) in the past... About 1/month give an in-class group assignment. The assignment is HARD as far as critical thinking goes but graded generously. Altogether counts for about 10% of the grade - just enough that people care. And means that I get an attendence check/critical thinking exercise in while grading about 1/4 of the papers I ususally do. Groups more than 4 don't work. <BR/><BR/>Something I'm going to try: Require weekly writing assignments. Each week 3/4 of the class gets a 'check' grade just for turning something in and 1/4 of the class gets a real grade for content and detailed comments. This should lead to about 4 detailed grades per semester and again limits my grading to 25 papers/week instead of 100. Requires that they actually do the reading; limits my grading investment; hopefully improves their writing over time. <BR/><BR/>Check in with Dr. Crazy (Reassigned Time). Her archives have some nice comments on teaching composition and managing assignments/grading for a large number of students.ajowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11594506673794844413noreply@blogger.com