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I. Introduction To communicate successfully through writing is not easy and the task becomes more difficult when a student is still grappling with the mechanics of a second language. However, what you write while studying Spanish or Portuguese still has as its primary goal the transmission of a message to a reader. You should not overlook the tenets of good writing simply because you are using a language in which you are not yet proficient. II.Characteristics of Good Writing To understand and fully appreciate your writing, readers expect the following:
III. Writing as a Process No professional writer produces a polished paper on the first draft. Good writing evolves over time and requires revision. To help you learn the writing process, your instructor will guide you through the following steps until you reach the final version of your composition.
IV. Department Requirements The Department requires that you type all drafts of your compositions (prewriting exercises excluded) and give a title to each draft. The first draft should be stapled to the final version to facilitate evaluation.You should use the vocabulary and structures you are learning or have learned previously in class rather than resort to a dictionary or ask native speakers for assistance. This will help you to hone your writing skills more quickly. V. Feedback You will receive comments from your instructor on the first draft. In
addition, your instructor will indicate the grammatical errors you have
made so that you can correct them for the final version. However,
your instructor will not actually correct your grammar mistakes -
that is your responsibility. VI. Evaluation Deductions for late or missing
drafts: If the first draft is not submitted, the composition grade
will be lowered 25%. If either draft is submitted late, you will
be penalized 5% for each day it is overdue. Both drafts of your composition will be graded. The first draft is worth 40% and the second draft is worth 60% of the final composition grade. Both drafts are graded by considering four general aspects of good writing, each of which is worth 25% of the grade. These four aspects or categories are:
Accuracy: Accuracy here refers to grammatical accuracy. This is basically an assessment of the linguistic mechanics of the composition. It is based on the student's ability to correct use the grammatical structures that have been studied at each level. For example, a Spanish 2 or Spanish 3 student may be expected to use the preterite and imperfect tenses correctly, whereas a Spanish 1 student would not. Sophistication: The grade for sophistication is based on both the complexity and appropriateness of the structures used. Students who use more complex structures, and who use a variety of forms and structures while maintaining a tone appropriate to the assignment, will receive higher grades in this category than those who use simple and repetitive structures. Vocabulary: This grade is based on the complexity and appropriateness of the vocabulary used in the composition. Characteristics of a good paper will include the ability to correctly use vocabulary appropriate to the level of Spanish as well as the ability to name abstract concepts and to paraphrase, with no interference from English or another language. Coherence: The grade for coherence measures the student's ability to logically present and develop his or her ideas in a clear and organized way. It will also take into consideration the degree to which your composition fulfills the goals of the assignment. Let's say a student's receives the following grades on his or her first draft: Accuracy 21/25; Sophistication 18/25; Vocabulary 22/25; Coherence 21/25. The student's grade for the first draft is calculated as follows:
On the second draft, the composition has improved considerably, and the
student receives these grades: Accuracy 24/25; Sophistication 23/25; Vocabulary
23/25; Coherence 24/25
The student's final grade would be 82(0.4) + 94(0.6), or 32.8 + 56.4 = 89.2 or 89% |