Guidelines for Grading in Studio Writing Courses

All grading policies must be clearly stated in the syllabus. Any changes to those policies during the semester will be made in writing to every student in the class. Changes to the grading policy once the semester is underway, though, will be avoided whenever possible.
Grading policies will be constructed and explained in such a way that every student in the class understands them.
In studio courses, the primary grades are derived from students’ writing.
The part of the course grade based on students' writing processes and class participation may include activities such as peer review; reading responses; journals; annotations and summaries; presentations; discussion; critical revisions of drafts in progress; and other informal writing assignments, leading to a more sustained text.
An attendance policy must be stated in the syllabus and presented to students in a way that highlights the pedagogical aims of such a policy rather than strictly emphasizing its punitive effects. When poor attendance interferes with a student's participation, the instructor may reduce the course grade or, in extreme cases (for example, absences exceeding the equivalent of three weeks of class sessions), fail the student in the course. In determining attendance guidelines, teachers must not create a rigid policy that does not allow exceptions for those students who are unable to attend class for valid reasons. Also, an attendance policy cannot be used as a means of discouraging inappropriate or undesirable classroom behaviors (such as tardiness, sleeping in class, or technological distractions).
The policy concerning late work should be clearly stated in the syllabus. As with attendance, policies concerning late work should be flexible enough to allow for reasonable exceptions.