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Types of grades:
What is an "NP" and why did I receive one on my paper?
What is an "095P" and why did I receive one?
What is an "EF" and why did I receive one?
What is 355: 096 and why did I receive a passing or
failing grade in this course?
What is a "TZ" and why did I receive one?
What is a "TF" and why did I receive one?
How final grades are determined:
How are final grades determined? Is effort rewarded?
What does "all grades are subject to departmental
review" mean?
What is folder review?
What to do if you're dissatisfied with your grade:
What should I do if I'm not happy with a grade I
received on one of my papers?
What should I do if I'm not happy with the grade
I received at the end of the semester?
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What is an "NP" and why did I receive one on my paper?
The "NP" grade signifies that the paper in question is "not passing."
A paper that receives an "NP" demonstrates that the author made a reasonable
attempt to complete the assignment but failed to meet the minimum requirements
necessary to receive a passing grade. The "NP" is, thus, distinct from
the "F," which signifies a failure to complete the assignment and a
failure to demonstrate any meaningful moments of successful engagement
with the assigned materials.
It is not unusual for students to receive one or two NPs during the first
half of the semester in 101. By the second half of the
semester, though, most students will have mastered the basic skills necessary
to dependably receive passing marks.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What is an "095P" and why did I receive one?
This is a non-punitive failing grade awarded to students in 355:100 who,
despite their best efforts throughout the term, are not yet regularly
producing passing work. Students are retroactively de-registered from
355:100 and then re-registered in 355:095 in place of 355:100. Instead
of a receiving a failing grade for 355:100, students will receive a "P"
for passing 355:095, a course which essentially stands in for the original
355:100 course on the student's transcript. The grade of "095P"
indicates that the student earned 3 "E credits" in a course
called 355:095.
The grade grants students 3 "E credits." These credits are "empty" credits--this
means they do not count towards graduation or get factored into your GPA.
They do get counted within the number of credits you are carrying for
the semester, however, and can thus assist you in maintaining full-time
status.
Cook College and University College do not accept the 095P grade.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What is an "EF" and why did I receive one?
This is a non-punitive failing grade awarded to students in 355:101 who,
despite their best efforts throughout the term, are not yet regularly
producing passing work. Students who receive this grade have attended
the class regularly, completed all six papers, and taken the final, but
their work is not yet of passing quality. Even though some students have
improved throughout the semester, they may not be strong enough as writers
to complete 101. In order to pass 101, students should be ready for 355:201,
the Writing Program's research writing course, where students are expected
to read long and complex texts which they must synthesize into a research
essay that asserts a point-of-view.
Cook College, the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, and University College
do not accept the EF grade.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What is 355: 096 and why did I receive a passing or failing grade
in this course?
355:096 is the course number for students receiving regular tutorial
assistance at one of the Writing Program's Writing Centers. Students who
complete 5 sessions successfully receive 1.5 "E credits," which don't
count towards graduation and are not calculated into your GPA. These credits
do count, however, towards fulfilling full-time status.
University College students are not eligible for the 355:096 course and
thus their transcripts do not reflect their enrollment in the Writing
Center course.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What is a "TZ" and why did I receive one?
A "TZ" grade is given to students who never attended a class, despite
being registered for the class.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What is a "TF" and why did I receive one?
The "TF" grade is a "temporary failing grade" given to students who,
for extraordinary reasons, have not completed the assigned work in the
time allotted. If you received a TF you should first contact your instructor for information on why were given that grade. In some cases--such as missing work--the TF can be resolved with your instructor. In other cases, the TF will be referred to the Writing Centers, an option called an 096-TF.
What does this mean?
If you were given an 096-TF, it means that your work for the course is close to passing but is not yet at the passing level. Rather than requiring you to immediately retake the course, the Writing Program is giving you the opportunity to meet with a tutor at one of the Writing Centers to work on revision strategies for your paper(s).
So will I get a passing grade just for revising my paper(s)?
No! Your revised work must earn a passing grade in order for you to pass the course. If your revised work does not earn a passing grade, you will need to retake the course for which you earned the TF. You are being given an opportunity to pass the course, not a guarantee that you will pass.
What do I need to do now?
- You should go to one of the Writing Centers to enroll for 096-TF tutoring as soon as possible. Be sure to tell the desk staff at the Writing Center that you need 096-TF tutoring, not regular tutoring.
- If you do not revise your paper(s) with an 096-TF tutor, then the temporary grade of TF will automatically change to a permanent failing grade for the course.
Where are the Writing Centers?
The Writing Centers where you can enroll for 096-TF tutoring are:
- Plangere Writing Center, Murray Hall 304, College Avenue Campus (732-932-1149)
- Livingston Writing Center, Lucy Stone Hall B104A, Livingston Campus (732-445-4048)
- Douglass/Cook Writing Center, 135 George Street, room 101, Douglass Campus (732-932-8856)
If you have any questions about 096-TF tutoring, please contact one of the Writing Center Coordinators at the phone numbers above.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
How are final grades determined? Is effort rewarded?
The final grade you receive reflects your "sustained level of achievement"
at the end of the course. Thus, in writing courses where you submit multiple
papers over the course of the semester, your final grade is determined
mostly by your performance on the final three papers. Thus, you are not
penalized for poor performance early in the semester.
Because the only way to improve as a writer is to work hard, it is safe
to say that effort plays an important role in your performance. This does
not mean, though, that working hard will guarantee success or that it
will insure that you receive the highest grade. Rather, your final grade
will reflect what level of success you've achieved at the end of the course:
your final grade, in other words, will be a measure of what you can do
dependably as a writer as demonstrated by the work you've handed in over
the course of the semester.
To learn more about the Writing Program's grading criteria and to see
samples of papers that have been graded and commented on, go to the Gradatorium.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What does "all grades are subject to departmental review" mean?
In order to insure that all students are graded according to the same
standards, all folders are brought to the Writing Program offices to be
reviewed twice a semester--once at mid-semester and again after the final
papers have been handed in and graded. During this review process, considerable
energy is devoted to assuring that the grades that are being placed on
the essays are accurate and that the comments are fair and helpful.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What is folder review?
In order to insure that all students are graded according to the same
standards, all folders are brought to the Writing Program offices to be
reviewed twice a semester--once at mid-semester and again after the final
papers have been handed in and graded. Folder review is what this process
is called. During this review process, teachers in the Writing Program
meet with the Directors of the Program to discuss how the class is going:
assignments, student papers, and teacher comments are all read and discussed.
Considerable energy is devoted to assuring that the grades that are being
placed on the essays are accurate and that the comments are fair and helpful.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What should I do if I'm not happy with a grade I received on
one of my papers?
If you are not happy with the grade you received on one of your papers,
you should take some time to review the comments that your teacher has
written on your paper: in most cases, your teacher's marginal and end
comments will make it clear what the strengths and the weaknesses of your
writing are and what you need to do to improve your performance.
If, after reviewing the comments, you do not have a clear sense of what
you need to do to improve your writing, you should schedule an appointment
with your teacher to discuss what you can do to improve your writing.
These discussions are most productive if they are conducted in a non-adversarial
way, so it is best to use these meetings as an opportunity to get a better
sense of the Writing Program's grading standards and how you can produce
work that rises to those standards. To learn more about the grading standards
in Expos 101, go to the Gradatorium.
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Writing Program FAQs: Grades
What should I do if I'm not happy with the grade I received at
the end of the semester?
If you are not happy with the grade you received at the end of the semester,
you should make certain to meet with your teacher during final office
hours and discuss your grade. Your teacher will explain to you the process
used to arrive at your final grade and your teacher will go through your
folder with you to help you see how your sustained level of achievement
in the course was determined. To learn more about how final grades are
determined, go the FAQ "How are final grades determined."
If, after meeting with your teacher, you are still not satisfied with
your final grade, you should make an appointment to meet with one of the
Writing Program's Assistant Directors. You should bring your folder of
papers to this meeting and you should be prepared to discuss why you think
your grade is not accurate. These meetings are most productive if the
conversation focuses on your writing, so it is recommended that you re-familiarize
yourself with what you've written over the course of the semester, so
that you can provide concrete examples of how your writing has improved.
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