Islands Institute students receive a grade of A to E. Assessment criteria are offered as a guideline to producing excellent work. They may be varied by arrangement with the instructor, if necessary to your project.
• Outstanding work.
• Work in this range should show evidence of creativity and originality. It will employ Interdisciplinary Approaches.
• There should be abundant evidence, as appropriate to the task, of background research, examining comparative material, reading and referencing.
• The work should be well-structured and evidence thoughtful consideration and technical competence in both document construction and Student Posting.
• The text will be well-written, without noticeable grammatical or other errors.
• Reference material will be appropriately cited, using a standard academic format such as APA Standards or MLA Standards. (Citation is not necessary in Student Posting Student Postings.)
• Excellent work.
• Work in this range should show a considerable degree of independent thought and flair, together with a sound factual knowledge and be well focused on the subject in hand.
• There should be evidence, as appropriate to the task, of background research, looking at comparative material, wide reading and suitable referencing.
• Text will be well written, without noticeable grammatical or other errors.
• Work in this class will be distinguished from work deserving an A because discussion or content may be slightly less complete or there may be minor factual errors or some technical elements that do not quite work.
• Alternatively, it may be first class work that is lacking a single substantive point or content or contains an error that precludes a higher mark.
• Good.
• There may be first class work but it will not be sustained throughout.
• Alternatively, it may be flawed by a single substantive mistake or misconception, or a serious technical error.
• Obvious points will have been methodologically covered, but the subtleties will generally have been missed and there is likely to be only evidence of limited reading or looking at comparative material, as appropriate to the task.
• Referencing will be present but may at times be inaccurate or insufficient.
• Such work can be distinguished from A or B work because it will show a more limited scope or demonstrate less independent thought.
• Pass.
• Work in this class will show little or no evidence of reading beyond the assigned texts.
• It will be lacking in flair and thoughtfulness.
• Referencing may at times be inaccurate or insufficient.
• The work may be flawed by spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.
• Work in this class may seem rather disappointing and flat.
• The work may well be rather too brief.
• It may contain some serious technical errors.
• Fail.
• Poor work.
• Work in this class is not satisfactory.
• The work is likely to be substantially flawed or weak.
• Typically the work will be muddled and poorly argued.
• The author will show little sign of significant reading on the subject.
• Some sections may be irrelevant.
• Work in this class may also be very brief.
• There is likely to be little evidence of Interdisciplinary Approaches.
• Arguments may show bias and naivety and may be poorly structured.
• The work may be flawed by poor grammar and spelling.
• Referencing is likely to be absent or very poorly carried out.
• It is likely to be generally flawed by weak and shallow arguments, lack of thoughtfulness, limited evidence, lack of reading, lack of content, lack of referencing, poor use of language and significant confusion, even on some basic points.
• Technical errors may preclude the student’s participation in Student Postings or evaluation of the work.
A mark of zero is allocated if no work is handed in.