Grading Breakdown
Grades are a combination of the quality of your work, class participation and progress. Simply showing up will not make you pass the course. You must be prepared for the days lesson, completing any homework or readings assigned and ready to discuss. Grades are based on four categories, which are assigned a 1-5 number and averaged to find your final mark—

Attendance
You begin the semester with a 5. Missing more than one class deducts 1 point for every missed or tardy class.

Project completion
You begin the semester with a 5. You are expected to show progress every class. For every class in which work is not shown deducts 1 point and is considered an unprepared class. If a project in its final form is never shown to the instructor a point per project is deducted from your score.

Craft
Craft is your skill level and attention to detail. It includes your general knowledge and progression of typographic nuances as well as your ability to produce perfect mock-ups. In this criteria, craft can be building perfect books, making perfect cuts and presenting your work in a professional fashion. It can also be mastery of digital tools. If poorly constructed projects are presented you will be deducted points from your score of 5.

Effort, Participation, Progress, Quality
Effort is how serious you are taking the course and how good your work is. If you are participating in discussion, conversing with the instructor, pushing yourself, or progressing over the summer you will find your score higher on the scale. It’s simple: Be a good student. It is not wholly dependent on the quality of your work, but the quality of your learning ability. Talent is not a skill, skill can be developed over time. Skill is achievable with hard work and focus. A general basis for this scale can be found below…

5
Your work is of exceptional quality and reflects mastery of the material covered in class. Your class participation is outstanding. Your work steadily improved throughout the semester.

4.5
Your work is of very high quality. You frequently participate in class.

4
Your work is of high quality that indicates substantially higher than average ability. You participate in class.

3.5
Your work is very good and satisfies the goals of the course.

3
Your work is good.

2.5
Your work is above average.

2
Your work is average and indicates an understanding of the course material; passable. Satisfactory completion of a course is considered to be a grade of C or higher.

1
Your work is of poor quality. You submitted homework assignments that consistently did not follow instructions or involve any effort. Probation level though passing for credit.

0
Your work did not meet the requirements for this class. You did not do any homework, complete projects, or attend class. You will receive no credit.

Average breakdown
Your score number translates to a final grade in the following scale

5-4A
4-3B
3-2C
2-1D
1-0F

Examples
All of you—Dont miss a single session (5). Bring in work, always pushing it forward and improving weekly (5). Your craft is impeccable and considered, oftentimes going above and beyond (5). You consistently contribute thoughtful points and helpful suggestions during crits, and challenge yourself to make 🔥🔥🔥 projects (5).
5+5+5+5=20÷4=5 (A+)

Student A has only missed one class, and does not see a deduction in their attendance score (5). They have completed every project on time (5). Their craft could use some work but is generally good (3). They consistently contribute thoughtful points and helpful suggestions during crits, and has progressed from the beginning to the end of the semester (5).
5+5+3+5=18÷4=4.5 (A)

Student B missed one class due to illness, and missed another class due to other unforeseen circumstances (5−1=4). Those two absences caused one project to be turned in late, but they presented the instructor with the final version the following class (5−1=4). Their craft could use some work but is generally good (3). They dont talk much during class, but thoughtfully present their work and have steadily improved throughout the semester (3).
3+4+3+3=14.5÷4=3.25 (B)

Student C missed two classes (5−1=4). Their missed classes meant they did not show work on two different occasions, but they presented the instructor with the final version the following class (5−2=3). They do just enough to present assignments, sometimes not following the medium an assignment calls for or showing work not properly cut to size (2). Their work is average and rarely challenge themselves (2).
4+3+2+2=11÷4=2.75 (C)

Student D has missed three classes, which is grounds for withdrawal (5−2=3). Their missed classes meant they did not show work on three different occasions, and did not show the instructor a final version of one project (5−3−1=1). When showing work their craft is poor, oftentimes with crooked cuts, frayed edges, or elements poorly adhered to one another (2). They don’t contribute to class discussion, and typically make comments to their peers or distract from instruction. When their work is not in focus, they don’t listen to other crits, rather look at their phone or wander off. Their attitude is generally poor or uninterested in learning or progressing (1).
3+1+2+1=6÷4=1.75 (D)