Return to Evaluating Group Projects - Fairly
This tool can be used as a grading form for students who participated
in a collaborative writing project to evaluate other members contribution
to the final product.
When all the students in a group contribute equally to the project everyone gets the same group grade (remember that individual contribution grades will vary). On occasion, a student feels that they have contributed above and beyond the work of anyone else in the group. When this happens, the student who has put in the most work can propose to their group that they be designated "senior author" of the manuscript and receive the grade of the paper plus three points extra credit. All other students are named "contributing authors" of the manuscript and receive the grade as is. If a student did very minimal work, according to the evaluation of the rest of the group, they are considered an "acknowledgment" and receives the grade minus five points. Students who do not contribute at all receive a zero.
The group has sole responsibility for differential grading, and demonstrates this by assigning the author designation as well as signing the document to indicate agreement. Group members usually agree with the decision - recognizing differences in student's contributions. If necessary, the instructor may serve as a mediator to help students resolve the conflict, but will not determine the outcome for the group.
Please indicate the author status of your group:
Contributing Authors: (all receive the same group grades, but may have different individual contribution grades)
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
The following designations are options:
Senior Author: (3 bonus points) __________________________________________
Acknowledgment (minus 5 points) ________________________________________
The following signatures are required of all group members and indicate
you are in agreement with the rankings.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Carter, Judy H. (1995). Dealing with Parasites in group projects. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Speech Communication Assoc. (81st San Antonio, TX Nov. 18-21, 1995).