Grading

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

There are a few elementary things you can do to ensure that you receive a respectable grade in this course. These things may seem simple and obvious, but they are vitally important:

  • Be present. Show up to class on time. Full presence in class each week. Preparedness/Bringing necessary materials to each class. Make helpful contributions to discussions.
  • Be responsible. Communicate with your instructor beforehand if you must miss a session. Make a friend in class who will update you on what you missed.
  • Be aware. Contribute to the well being of the class community. Clean up. Use of safe and respectful studio and online practices and protocols.
  • Be diligent. Submit all of the Assignments on time. Watch assigned videos outside of class.
  • Follow instructions.
  • Use this website.
  • Time commitment. At least 6 hours of work time outside of class each week. 
  • Follow Your Passion. Love what you do. Make awesome work. Embrace experimentation and play. Explore options. Take chances.

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION

This is a class based in creativity and making. I strongly suggest that you (the creative maker) make the assignments interesting to you. Our assignments are starting-points, prompts and propositions. 

ON PERFECTION

Not every project you make can or will be a work of brilliance. It’s OK. In this class, it is much more important to submit work on time than to freeze up, because your work isn’t perfect. Get it done and then get some sleep. This class is about developing fluency through practice. When you’re just learning how to speak a new language, no one expects you to make beautiful poetry. Your ability to explore and experiment is is a critical ingredient, which means sometimes your work will not look like what you expected. This is okay and part of learning.

ASSIGNMENTS & PROJECTS

There are 4 major assignments: Weaving, Samples, What Matters? Banner, and Final Project (with options). All assignments are due at the start of the class on the due date indicated, unless otherwise stated. Due dates for each assignment are listed on the course schedule (subject to change). Late Final Project will not be accepted (without special advance permission). Students can redo any assignment and resubmit for grading before the final class.

GRADING BREAKDOWN SUMMARY

Projects and Deliverables are graded as above, A-F

Letter GradeEquivalent Percentage
A90-100%
B80-89%
C70-79%
D60-69%
R59% and below

Specific point structure, equalling 100 points:

  • Tapestry Weaving: 20 points
  • Samples, includes Weaving Sample (pass/fail): 20 points
  • What Matters? Banner: 20 points
  • Final Project: 20 points
  • Pinterest, Discussions, Participation, Attendance, Attitude: 20 points

GRADING RUBRIC can be found here.

PINTEREST, DISCUSSIONS, PARTICIPATION, QUIZES

This category includes active participation in the class community, being present in class activities (not using social media, not actively texting, not checking news etc), stewardship of communal space and resources, participation in clean up, helping peers, contributing to discussion and critiques, attentive listening, general demeanor and respect of peers, faculty, and staff, regular posting of work and research on Pinterest in the requested format and in appropriate folders, watching of assigned videos outside of class. Quizes will be utilized to assess whether students are watching the assigned videos outside of class.  If a video is assigned as homework, students should assume that there will be a quiz the following class. Unexcused late arrivals and missed classes will lower the grade at the discretion of the instructor. Poor participation in any one of these categories may result in loss of up to 20 points at the discretion of the instructor.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance to all classes and class-related activities is expected. You are responsible for what happens in class whether you’re here or not. Check the website to find out what you missed. Organize with your classmates to get class information and materials you have missed.

Expected absences: Within the first week of our course, please look ahead and see if you need to miss class for any excusable reason (religious holidays, CMU-sponsored events, medical or family emergencies, etc.) and email me. 

Illness: Let me know before class if you are ill and must miss class. I can be very understanding and accommodating about medical issues when you inform me in a timely and professional manner.

Mental presence and social media. Physical and virtual presence means nothing if you’re “checked out”; your mental presence is paramount. During the instructor’s lectures or guest presentations, open laptops and social media are prohibited. You can exist for few hours without tweeting, facebooking, chatting, texting, emailing. Any laptop or phone for social media, texting, etc. is banned during lectures, critiques and group discussion, unless specifically allowed/requested by the instructor.

Critique: Your presence and participation is especially important for critiques. Sometimes students who have not completed their projects think that missing class is better than coming empty handed. This is the wrong assumption! Your participation on critique days is essential, regardless of whether or not your project is complete. Critique sessions and conversations help you understand our class standards, expectations, and criteria for good work. Even if your own project is unfinished, you are still expected to contribute productively to the class discussion.

INSTRUCTOR COMMITMENTS

  • Be accessible. I will hold regularly scheduled office hours each week. You can find those details on top page of the syllabus. If your academic or job schedule does not allow you to come to my office hours and you are in need of a meeting, please email me so we can set something up.
  • Quickly respond to emails. I will respond to emails within 48 hours, usually within 24 hours, Monday – Friday. 
  • Promptly return grades and feedback.  Your grades will be made available to you via email, within 2 weeks of presenting the work. This will allow you to monitor your grade throughout the semester.
  • Solicit student feedback. I constantly strive to improve my ability to teach. You should feel free to email me your feedback at any time. I hope that you will provide your candid and constructive comments.
  • Help to provide necessary accommodations. If you have a disability and have an accommodations letter from the Disability Resources office, I encourage you to discuss your accommodations and needs with me as early in the semester as possible. I will work with you to ensure that accommodations are provided as appropriate. If you suspect that you may have a disability and would benefit from accommodations but are not yet registered with the Office of Disability Resources, I encourage you to contact them at access@andrew.cmu.edu.