Assigning Grades

In the past, some courses were graded "on a curve," with each student assigned a grade based on his performance relative to all the other students in the class. Instructors knew ahead of time how many As, Bs, and so on they would like to assign, and students competed for a limited number of high grades. This method should not be used because it can discourage students. The goal of any class is to to maximize the number of students who master learning objectives. All assessment practices should be designed to help them demonstrate what they know.

Absolute Grading
This system assigns students grades relative to a preexisting set of criteria. Students are not directly in competition with each other, since all students who pass a certain set of standards can receive an A. Students should know ahead of time what the criteria are for receiving each grade, so they can track their progress through the course.

There are a few general rules that you should follow in setting up your grading system. First, you should determine ahead of time how many tests and projects you will require and how they will be weighted. Adding assignments at a later date is unfair to students and possibly against your school's grading policy. Second, you should clearly document your plan and make it available to students at the beginning of the course as part of the syllabus. Third, stick to the plan, unless there are extremely compelling reasons to deviate.