A Linguistically Inclusive Approach to Grading Writing

Hannah A. Franz is the program associate for graduate advisement at the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and a coauthor of The Indispensable Guide to Undergraduate Research: Success in and Beyond College.

Contents Foreword Vershawn Ashanti Young vii Acknowledgments xiii 1. Introduction to a Linguistically Inclusive Approach to Grading Writing 1 Language Variation and a Linguistically Inclusive Approach to Grading Writing 2 The Time It Takes to Grade 3 What Motivated Me to Write This Book 4 Sociolinguistic Concepts That Inform This Book 6 The Benefits of a Linguistically Inclusive Approach to Grading 8 Is a Linguistically Inclusive Grading Approach for Me? 10 Multicultural Education and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy 13 The Significance of Grades 17 Historical Context of Grading Writing 20 Study Backdrop 22 Companion Resources 22 Overview of the Book 23 Self-Assess Your Practices 24 2. Curriculum and Instruction for a Linguistically Inclusive Grading Approach 25 Course Objectives in Support of Linguistically Inclusive Grading 25 Instructor Motivations and Linguistically Inclusive Grading 30 Instruction in Organization and Grammar 34 Assignment Goals and Language Variation 39 Audience 41 Self-Assess Your Practices 44 Linguistically Inclusive Practices 45 3. Linguistically Inclusive Grading Processes 46 Consider Grading Priorities and Distribution 46 Align Grading Priorities With Instruction 48 Read for Student Meaning 51 Use and Explain Sociolinguistically Informed Grading Criteria 52 Word Grading Criteria Positively 56 Maximize Peer Feedback and Multiple Drafts 57 Pose Questions Rather Than Penalties 60 Self-Assess Your Practices 60 Linguistically Inclusive Practices 61 4. Linguistically Inclusive Commenting Strategies 63 Reapportion Your Time 64 Use Feedback as a Conversation 65 Teach Through Specific Positive Comments 66 Communicate High Expectations 69 Highlight Your Subjectivity as a Reader and Acknowledge Multiple Audiences 71 Ask Strategic Questions 73 Contextualize Prescriptive Comments 74 Rethink Labels 77 Use Corrections Judiciously 79 Self-Assess Your Practices 81 Linguistically Inclusive Practices 82 5. Organization and Word Choice 84 Organization and Topic Relationships 85 Respond to Organization and Topic Relationships in a Linguistically Inclusive Approach 88 Pronoun Choice 92 Respond to Pronoun Choice in a Linguistically Inclusive Approach 94 Formal and Informal Word Choice 96 Respond to Formal and Informal Word Choice in a Linguistically Inclusive Approach 98 Self-Assess Your Practices 100 Linguistically Inclusive Practices 100 6. Grammar and Mechanics 102 What Exactly Are Grammar and Mechanics? 102 Grammar Patterns 104 Respond to Grammar Patterns in a Linguistically Inclusive Approach 108 Mechanical Features 113 Self-Assess Your Practices 116 Linguistically Inclusive Practices 117 7. Putting It All Together 119 A Linguistically Inclusive Approach to Grading: Summarized 120 Application of Multicultural Education and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy 122 What Can a Linguistically Inclusive Grading Approach Look Like in Your Classroom? 123 Conclusion 131 References 132 Index 140 About the Author 145