COMM 418 "Crisis News"

Grades - Fall, 2000

(posted: [month, day, 2000)

Below are listed your grades for the '00F semester, according to the 4-digit numbers you provided for this purpose. You may wish to review the course grading policies, outlined in the syllabus and on this web site.

Below the grade chart are general comments, applicable to many students' papers. Those of you who indicated you plan to pick up your papers will find specific comments on your papers, which may be collected at the main office of the Communication Department, 250 Pearson Hall.

• Some of you chose very creative topic ideas, which made for interesting presentations and papers. They also demonstrated the thought and effort you put into your project. A few chose only to review the basic material we've covered in class.
• Although visual props contributed to some of the best presentations, some of the best were prop-free. And visuals were used in some of the poorest.
• The best final presentations featured well-organized subject matter, articulate presentations, ability to handle challenging questions and avoidance of rambling and reading from your paper.
• The best presentations were not always linked with the best papers.
• Some of you don't know the difference between "affect" and "effect," and how those words are used in context. Considering how many of you use these words, you might spend a bit of time reviewing that subject. (Generally, in the context in which most of you use these words, "affect" is used as a verb; "effect" is used as a noun.)
• "Media" are plural. "Medium" is singular. Pronouns and verbs should follow appropriately.
• A few of you apparently did not re-read your papers before submitting them. It's a good idea. You'd be amazed at what you'll find before I do. Does each sentence make sense? Have you punctuated and capitalized properly and consistently? Did you use your spell-checker? Even if you spell-checked, did you re-read afterwards to be sure the words you used have the meaning you intend? Did you remember to attach your bibliography or otherwise refer to your souces? Do your source references in the text coincide with your bibliography? Did you submit a draft of your paper, or the real McCoy? Are your pages in correct order?
• Format suggestions: Page numbers will help you make sure your pages are in order. Your name on each page will be sure your paper stays together. (So will a staple or other permanent binder. Paper clips don't accomplish that feat.)
• Some of you would benefit from working with the UD Writing Center. Your ideas are good, and, in many cases your writing is serviceable. But to achieve the kind of "polish" which will get your work read by others in real-life-after-college comes only from more diligent effort and some concrete tips from Writing Center experts. You will be well rewarded for any investment you make in polishing your writing skills. Try it; you'll like the results!
• Content counts. Quality of writing counts. Creativity counts. Evidence of thinking and analysis counts. Format, presentation and mechanics of writing count. Back to the top