C8 - Self-Assessment - Example 2: Essay Assignment

Using This Self-Assessment

You'll find this in the Canvas Commons, search term: C8 - Essay Self-Assessment

Why Are We Doing this Assignment?

Typically, most college students have always had their work evaluated by others.  They have not had to make decisions about its quality.  It is true that it can be challenging to evaluate one’s own work objectively; however, it is necessary to develop this skill.  As you move into the workplace, you will need to have the ability to honestly evaluate the work you do by “stepping into the shoes” of another person.  This is the skill this assignment is designed to cultivate.

The Assignment:

Using the rubric for the Essay One (a copy of this is at the end of these instructions) evaluate your final draft of that assignment and give yourself a grade.  For each of the evaluation criterion, give yourself a score and provide a written justification for your score.  In your justification, be specific.

      Effective Justification Example:

I gave myself thirty points in the assignment category because I felt that I did a good job of providing specific, relevant details about my subject in my body paragraphs.  Furthermore, all the paragraphs focused on single ideas that those details supported.  However, as I look back on my paper’s body paragraphs now, I see that some of the examples I chose to focus on were not the best ones I could have used.  In fact, I have discovered that some of my examples did not, in fact, focus in the ideas I thought that they did. (30)

     Less Effective Justification Example:

I gave myself some points in the assignment category because I think I did a good, but not great job at it.

Some Guidelines:

First, re-read your final draft through at least once before you do this assignment.

Second, when you score the conventions criterion, use the following rules:

  1. If a paper has three or fewer conventions errors, this puts the essay in the “A” range in that criterion. 
  2. Four to five errors puts the essay in the “B” range. 
  3. Six to seven, puts the essay into “C” range. 
  4. Eight errors puts the essay in the “D” range. 
  5. And nine or more errors would result in an “F” grade range. 

Third, do not be afraid to ask questions if you are having trouble making judgments about your writing. 

Will I use the grade you come up with?

The answer is “it depends.”  Just to be clear, I hold the power of the grade.  I am the one who is ultimately responsible for the final evaluation of your draft.  If I think that your evaluation is wildly unrealistic, I will say so and give you the grade that I feel your performance justifies.

Having said that, though, I am frequently surprised by how close students’ judgments of the quality of their work are to mine.  In most cases, it has been my experience that your judgment of your paper’s grade will not be far from mine.  Surprisingly, students often give themselves lower grades than I would give.

How will I evaluate this assignment?

I will evaluate your assignment on the following criteria:

  • Length
  • Spelling, punctuation, grammar
  • Use of supporting details
  • Honesty and thoroughness

Please click the assignment settings to view the specific rubric criteria and point values.

Long Essay Self Evaluation Template

Conventions Criterion

Total Point
Value
Effective Response to the Topic 35
Organization of Content 25
Grammar, Spelling and
Punctuation
15
Introduction and Conclusion 15
Use of Examples and Evidence 20
Formatting
10