If It Walks Like a Duck…
December 21st, 2003
Anyone who has taught struggles to define for themselves what constitutes student work good enough to label with an A. Mike Arnsen at Pedablogue has some wonderful quotes from some teachers relating how they define the best of the best (assuming minimal grade inflation!). Riffing off the first definition from Derek Bok, to me an A paper is one that you can’t wait to show your colleagues (possibly as proof that you are actually reaching some of the class at a high level :-).
Another criteria I’ve heard is “if a paper surprises me” or “teaches me something I didn’t know.” I concur, of course, but find these expectations aren’t really quantifiable on a syllabus.