English 233: Criteria for evaluating exams (succinct version)

English 233: Introduction to Western Humanities -- Baroque and Enlightenment

Criteria for evaluating essays.

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There is a more extended version of these remarks. You may wish to consult it for explanations in detail.

These criteria apply to both the essays for the short-essay questions on the in-class portion of the exam and to the essay written out of class. Some of them present more of a challenge in doing the latter. Organizational strategy and quality transitions, for example, are especially important indices of insight in out-of-class essays.

You will notice that some of the following remarks approach the same criteria from different angles.

As to the question you choose to answer:

Do you insightfully detect the issues it raises?

Do you address those issues in a forthright way?

Did you stick to the question as written?

As to the facts of the story that you mention:

Do you formulate them in a definite and clear way?

Do you get the facts straight? I.e., are your representations of them accurate?

Are the facts you introduce relevant to the issues that the question you've chosen requires you to address? (If so, is that relevance clear?)

As to the interpretive inferences you bring forward in the course of your answer:

First of all, of course, there have to actually be some! Are there any?

Are the interpretive inferences you make relevant to the question you are addressing? (If so, is their relevance clear?)

Do you unify your interpretive inferences - that is, do you integrate them within some overall focus? And is what you say coherent?

Do you proceed by an intelligible (logical and relevant) organizational strategy?

Do we consistently see logical and insightful transitions?

For explanation in detail, consult the extended version of these remarks.

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This page last updated 20 August 2001.