COMPOSITION SCORING GUIDE
with Sample Grades

This composition scoring guide, used in all of Professor Szalay's intermediate and advanced German language courses, is based on Claire Gaudiani's proficiency-based measure. The scoring scheme at the top here is followed below by sample grades.

I. Grammar/Vocabulary:
A = fluent with sufficient mastery; very few errors
B = comprehensible, with some errors
C = substantial and more significant errors
D = one or more blocks to communication
F = unintelligible, sloppy

II. Stylistic Technique:
A = skilled, sophisticated use of German syntax in content and the variation in syntax
B = clear, appropriate, and near-sophisticated syntax
C = errors, but attempts at sophistication and appropriateness
D = errors and/or inappropriate syntax
E = garbled syntax

III. Organization
A = well-organized paragraphs, use of clear topic and summar sentences, convincing, easy to follow
B = good evidence of structuring of paragraphs (perhaps an unwieldly use of patterns of organization, in places)
C = some attempts at organization, but few topic, development, summary sequences
D = hard to follow, organization undermines intelligibility
F = no evidence of planning in structuring of paragraphs

IV. Content
A = significant, interesting, highly appropriate, well thought out, consistently germane to assignment
B = generally very good work, but some facts, points, and/or arguments remain unsupported or insufficiently supported; repetitions or cliches may be apparent
C = careless development of data relevant to content
D = no effort to make content significant to composition
E = incoherent or widely inappropriate content

                                SAMPLE GRADING

A well-written but poorly organized composition will be graded, for instance, as follows:

         Grammar/Vocabulary      B = 3
         Style                             A = 4
         Organization                  C = 2
         Content                         B = 3
                                            _______

                                            12 divided by 4 = 3 or B

Or, a student who produces unsophisticated syntax in perfect German with little thought about organization or content may receive a poor grade, despite "perfect" grammar.

         Grammar/Vocabulary      A = 4
         Style                             D = 1
         Organization                  D = 1
         Content                         F = 0
                                            _______

                                            6 divided by 4 = 1.5 or D+


On the other hand, students who strive to write sophisticated sentences, use logical and appropriate connectives, and organize a well thought-out content intelligently may make more grammar/vocabulary errors.

         Grammar/Vocabulary     C = 2
         Style                             B = 3
         Organization                  B = 3
         Content                        A = 4
                                            _______

                                            12 divided by 4 = 3 or B


Last Updated: 03/27/02