Grading Policies
Kristin Shrader-Frechette

1. Dr. Shrader-Frechette is eager to encourage students to learn techniques of logical and methodological analysis, especially with respect to ethical theory and with respect to philosophy of science and scientific method. As a result, the main goal of her courses and her grading is to help students learn to engage in analysis according to the criteria of assumptions, consistency, completeness, coherence, and consequences. She also grades students on how well they understand and avoid classical logical fallacies in reasoning. Students never will be graded on their particiular opinions or positions, but only on the quality of their arguments and their factual understanding of the material.

2. In order to encourage students to become proficient in logical and conceptual analysis, approximately 20 percent of each student's grade will be based on classroom analysis of the class material for that day. Classroom analysis of arguments and positions will be based on the five criteria (assumptions, consistency, completeness, coherence, and consequences) listed above in the previous item, as well as on students' ability to recognize logical fallacies. Students should come prepared to contribute to this analysis during every class.

3. Instead of doing some of the course papers, or instead of doing the final exam, undergraduate students may opt to do a social-justice project that focuses on helping to solve a real-world problem by using analytical techniques of ethics or of philosophy of science. To learn more about this option, exercised in connection with the Center for Social Concern, click on the link "Center for Social Concern" at Dr. Shrader-Frechette's home page on the web.

4. If any student wishes to know his or her course grade, including the grades for particular categories of work (exams, papers, projects, classroom analysis), the student should give Dr. Shrader-Frechette a stamped, self-addressed envelope on the last day of class or at the final exam, and she will supply this information.

5. All students are free to do extra-credit work to raise their course grades; students should discuss this extra-credit work with Dr. Shrader-Frechette no later than the next class after she returns the mid-term tests.

6. Dr. Shrader-Frechette does all her own grading, and she is eager to meet with students, either during her office hours or at any other time, by mutual agreement. Her office is 309 Decio. She often does not have time to answer emails, however, because she receives so many of them.