World History Grading System Explained

World History Grading System Explained
Your student will be graded on 6 criteria each semester. Each category will be worth 200 points, for a
total of 1,200 points a semester. This semester your student will be graded progressively in the areas of
reading comprehension, content knowledge, compare and contrast presentations, and cause and effect.
They will also receive points in a more traditional sense for homework and participation in class
activities and discussions.
Your student’s grade will be based on two types of assessments. Let’s address the skills. Your student
will be assessed four times each semester per skill, by a test, essay, or performance event. They will be
judged on their ability to master a skill or content standard.
What are standards and skills?
1 Standard-Based Assessment- Content standards are devised to help your student understand the
content of the class and transfer his/her knowledge to certain skill sets. Each standard will be assessed
4 times throughout the semester and will be graded progressively (or the grade will represent the level
of proficiency your student obtains by the end of the semester).
2 Skill-Based Assessment- Skills involving literacy and expression of knowledge will be assessed. The
students will use our curriculum to express their ability to achieve high levels of skill in the formation of
an argument, comprehension of written and graphic material, and the expression of an argument or
main idea.
Progressive Grading System
I want to reward your student for mastering content standards and skill sets, as opposed to giving them
an average of all the work and assessments they have completed throughout the semester. So, all eight
of my standards and skills will be graded on a progressive system. This concept is best explained by me
offering a few examples. Please remember that each skill or standard will be assessed four times a
semester with tests, essays, and/or performance events (presentation, multimedia, debate, etc…).
Example #1
Let’s say a student receives the following results for Standard #1 in a semester:
Assessment #1 Assessment #2 Assessment #3 Assessment #4
20/50 30/50 50/50 50/50
If I averaged this students grades he or she would receive 150/200 points (or 75%, a C), however, I can
see the student not only improved throughout the semester, he/she repeatedly mastered the Content
Standard. So I would reward this progress/proven mastery of the standard by giving the student
200/200 points for Standard #1.

Example #2
Let’s pretend that the same student posted these results on Standard #2
Assessment #1 Assessment #2 Assessment #3 Assessment #4
30/50 20/50 50/50 40/50
An average of the scores would give this student a 140/200 (or 70%, a C-). Overall the student showed
improvement, and on Assessment #3 he/she showed a mastery of the standard (although he/she was
not able to prove that he/she mastered the standard by repeating their Assessment #3 results on
Assessment #4). I would say that by the end of the semester this student was at, or above proficiency
with this standard. I would reward the student’s improvement in becoming proficient in Standard #2 by
giving them a score of 160/200 (or an 80%).
All skill-based standards that your students will be assessed on are developed with our district’s mission
and curriculum in mind and they are in line with state standards. The 4 skill based standards that will
use PROGRESSIVE GRADING (explained above):
Content -200 points (standard tests to determine if your student has learned important
historical events, people, places, and things; as well as have the ability to make a connection between
content and the essential themes of the class)
Writing-200 points (students will learn to research history in order to develop a strong thesis
and then defend it with evidence)
Reading Comprehension- 200 points (we will read a lot in this class and also work on improving
our understanding of what we read)
Historical Thinking and Communication -200 points (students will spend time researching
cultures, then compare and contrast them to another or examining both continuity and change over
time within a culture. They will then learn to present their findings to the class in an interesting and
effective manner)
Cause and Effect* (2nd semester-to be added to the Content Standard)
The other two categories (no progressive grading for these categories) that your student has a chance to
earn points are:
Homework 200 points (including prep work for discussions and other assessments)
Participation 200 points (including graded discussions)

Grading Standards and Skills
*A list of skills and standards that, based on district curriculum and state standards, shape our class.
Students will be able to:
1-Recognize multiple viewpoints
2-Understand the relationship between man and the environment
3-Understand that there exists continuity and change over time within societies
4-Understand cause and effect relationships (life is made of choices)
5-Compare and contrast people, places, and events over time or across cultures
6- Develop a thesis to make a point or begin an argument
7-Use history to improve reading comprehension skills
- both identify the main point of a document as well as summarize
- understand how to read charts, graphs, and maps
8-identify main themes, peoples, and places throughout history that have had an effect on historical
events or that are examples of historical change
9-Particpate fully in classroom activities in order to build skills and master content
- Questioning and posing problems, thinking and working interdependently, listening with
understanding and empathy, creating and imagining, managing impulsivity, thinking and communicating
with clarity, and remaining open to continuous learning
- Preparing for and participating in formal classroom discussions
10- Establish and maintain a scholastic work ethic
-Homework completion and ability to meet deadlines