Specs Grading

During the Spring 2017 semester, I piloted a “specs” grading system with one of my English Composition 1 courses: in a “specs” grading system, students get a Pass/No-Pass assessment on all assignments rather than grades, as long as assignments meet minimum specifications. The minimum specifications are typically A and B-level work, and students have the chance to revise work if it doesn’t pass the first time.

The pilot was a success, and during the Spring 2019 semester, I ran my creative writing class using the specs system. It’s an appropriate system to use for a class in which students are being assessed on creative work, and it reinforces the revision process, which is key in any writing class.

Here are some of my artifacts: