My Latest Manifestation of Ungrading: 3 Up 3 Down

So my evolution in ungrading has hit a plateau. I think I have become comfortable in one method of upgrading, unmadness.

Students will tackle six assignments: 4 which will not be graded and two ungraded essays.

Two essays are not graded. The purposes of such work are for students to learn how to cite using footnotes per the Chicago Manual of Style, how to write like a historian, perform better quality research, and how to create Bibliographies. These are short essays, maybe 500-1000 words is ultimately for students to learn more about History. 

Then I critique their submissions, both form and content. I offer them three things to work on for improvement in the next submission. But there are no grades on these two history-specific essays.

Then the third submission is the upgrading essay. The upgrading essay is a holistic look at what they've learned so far, outside of the textbook, lectures, and other readings. They discuss contacts with the college's library, writing center, or other student support facilities. They might cover their support network outside of the classroom, their challenges, and how they overcame them. And the final sentence is their earned grade. Something like "Thus my earned grade to date is XX." 

If I agree based solely on the upgrading essay, I place their earned grade on all three assignments: the first two history-specific and the first upgrading essays.

Then we do it again. But the second, or final, upgrading essay is more comprehensive of the course: What were the most important three things you took away from the course? How will you apply what you learned in this course when you move forward into your next classes? Examine your development on the course: what are you the most proud of achieving? Why? Something like that, and then students will close their second, or final, upgrading essay with their earned grade. Again, if I agree, then I place that grade on their previous two submissions plus the final upgrading essay.

Most of the students get it. About 25% want to ignore the prompt for the upgrading essays and instead talk about one or both of their previous two history-specific submissions (what they got right, what they got wrong, etc), which have nothing to do with the ungrading essay. So I kick the upgrading essay back with the instructions to try it again. 

I did add two things this semester. First, I added an "Optional Esssay." At the end of the semester, when their Final Exam due date is upon them, they can do the "Optional Essay" to replace the grade of a submission they either did not do (one of the non-graded essays) or if they did not do the first upgrading essay particularly well ("well" being relative).  The grade on the "Optional Essay" takes the place of their lowest grade,.

The second option was not doing the six assignments in the syllabus, and instead writing a ten-page paper on any topic of their choice that applies to US history within the context of the class. I have to approve their topic (I do so in large measure to help them come up with a focused topic that can be covered in only ten pages) and then they submit drafts to me: first draft, second draft,  and list of working sources, which we discuss. Then the final draft is due when the class is scheduled to take their final exam. I estimate maybe 3-4 students in every class (that's about 10-15%) are doing the research paper option. As of this writing, I have not seen the final draft, but the earlier drafts and lists of sources suggest their final drafts should be something special. 

I look forward to whatever they submit in a few weeks, their final upgrading essay or their ten-page paper.

Happy New Year: Enjoy Yourself. It's Later Than You Think.

 As we move into another year I wonder how much of the past will be repeated. How many of those resolutions made last year will be repeated this year? How many mistakes made last year will be repeated this year? We promised ourselves last year that the year will be different. Was it? Lost of positive changes in 2023 for you? We need to make those positive changes and enjoy life because, as the song goes, we are closer to the end than we know. 

So, looking back 100 years, what was it like in 1924? Calvin Coolidge (R) became President when sworn in in February.  International Business Machines (IBM) was established. In 1924 they made typewriters and stenograph equipment. Today IBM is more complex working on the Cloud, in aerospace and the Defense industries, as well as cybersecurity. Prohibition begins. It became illegal to make, transport, and sell alcohol. It was never illegal to drink booze, however.   

The fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt was born in 1924. In the 70s and 80s she came out with a very famous pair of jeans. The astronaut Deke Slayton was also born in 1924. So too was the future youngest Naval fighter pilot of WWII and President of the United States, George H.W. Bush as well as future President Jimmy Carter (who is 99 as of this writing), and future Dallas Cowboys head coach, Tom Landry.

Eggs were 32 cents an ounce (and falling) and a movie ticket was a quarter. And the Cleveland Bulldogs were the NFL champs. Ever wonder why Cleveland Browns fans wear bulldog masks today? That's why. The Rose Bowl was interesting, or boring. Washington Husking tied Navy 0-0. There was no overtime rule at that time. 

Finally, Chicago was the first city in the US to have a recognized Gay Rights organization – the Society for Human Rights, established one hundred years ago.

Do you have any resolutions? I do. I want to lose weight (but that's an annual resolution). I'm trying the Galveston Diet and doubling my exercise regime. My second resolution is to make my classes more relative and interesting to my students. Finally, I resolve to play more Dungeons and Dragons!