Course Grade Breakdowns: Because the grades for this class are point-based, and because I want all of you to do well here, I am doing my level best to make my grading as transparent as I can for you. Below are the point breakdowns for each project, piece by piece. You can do the math, so to speak, and see what you need to do to make sure that nothing slips by you in terms of making sure you are focusing your energies where you need to. Basically, I have to do this for myself and see no reason to keep it secret.

Grading Expectations: I will be grading you not only on your creative writing in this course, but also on your activity as a student and your understanding of the principles behind the fiction you read and write.

A Level Work: This work exceeds expectation. It is original and creative. The story demonstrates the writer's understanding of the principle elements of fiction and how to manipulate them successfully into a successful narrative structure. Generally speaking, it incorporates fully-developed characters, a credible world, believable action, and original images to create an artful, fully-realized story. The prose is tight, polished, and free of typographical or grammatic error.

B Level Work: This work is original and creative. The story demonstrates the writer's knowledge of the principle elements of fiction. Generally speaking, it incorporates formal devices, developed characters, a complete world, believable action, and concrete images into a complete story. The prose is sharp, clean, and generally free of typographical or grammatic error.

C Level Work: This work is creative, but might be rooted in some cliché. The story demonstrates the writer's familiarity with the principle elements of fiction. Generally speaking, the work adequately incorporates characters in a coherent world with concrete images and some original thought into a complete story. The prose is readable and understandable despite a few points at which mistakes in language, grammar, or typography might be a little unclear or confusing.

D Level Work: This work is somewhat creative, but with very little original idea. Generally speaking, the work features undeveloped characters, a flat world and some concrete images in a story that has a beginning, middle, and ending. The prose is readable and understandable, although the writing may contain many points at which the writing strays inexplicably from standard grammar and spelling.

F Level Work: This work lacks orignality and creativity. Generally speaking, it demonstrates the writers lack of understanding or the inexplicable ignoring of the principle elements of fiction. Also, it applies to late work—if your work is not on Blackboard on time for the workshop, you will get a failing grade on that piece.