New Jersey Institute of Technology College of Computing Sciences CIS677: Information System Principles, Spring 2002 Professor Bieber
A Public Research University

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CIS677 Final Exam Format and Grading Guidelines

 --> Please read the accompanying Final Exam Procedures, posted on the course Web site...

Ground Rules: Substance

• Every answer must include an analysis including synthesis, even if this is not immediately apparent from the question. Remember that this synthesis must cut across class topics.
• Every answer should cite all appropriate articles we've read in class. Something like "as Jones states in [Jones97], ..." would be proper.
• Please include examples in your answer whenever possible (and appropriate), even if the question does not ask for examples.

Ground Rules: Depth of Answers

• By their nature, answering these questions could take several pages. Therefore, because people are restricted to 1250 words, responses cannot be complete and entirely comprehensive. So please take this into account when grading.
• However, this is not an excuse for a narrow answer. An answer should have some breadth to show that the person answering understands the broad implications of the question's topic, and then focus into some depth about selected issues.
• Also, answers must show that the person answering has thought about the topic. Answers should not be a list of characteristics or information just copied from the text. Answers must include thoughtful analysis that goes beyond what the text and readings state.

Ground Rules: Length Restrictions and Editing

• The answer should not exceed approximately 1250 words (i.e., 1,300 maximum).
• People taking the exam should have taken the time to re-read their answers and ensure that the answer is clear for the grader. Being unclear will not be grounds for regrading or reevaluating an answer.
• No one may modify their answer after the closing date (Sunday 4/28). We will take a snapshot of the answers at 9 a.m. the next morning...
• Answers should be spell checked.
• Answers should be grammar checked. (For example, MS Word has grammar checking tools.)

Grading Criteria

The grading criteria are:

1. First Paragraph(s) - Background/Framing (10 points)
2. All Sides of the Issues (20 points)
3. Synthesis References (15 points)
4. Synthesis Quality (15 points)
5. Justify your points (10 points)
6. General Quality (30 points)
7. Extra Credit (up to 5 points extra credit)
8. Follows Editing Guidelines (down to minus 5 points)
9. Length (down to minus15 points)

Unless otherwise noted, the grading categories are:

• great: fully discussed, explained well and well-justified
• good: partial discussion, explained decently and mostly justified
• ok: partial discussion; not explained well or well-justified
• poor: scant or poor discussion
• zero: not addressed

Valid Grades

Please assign the grades noted below. If the options are, e.g., 20 - 15 - 10 - 5, then give one of these four values. Do not give a grade of 12 to be between 15 and 10.

But My Grade seems low!

Note that if you end up with a "good" in each category, your grade will be an 81, which may seem lower than you expected. Don't worry about this. The grading scale is a bit tough. We'll end up curving the final grades.

Grading Justification

As part of your grading, you *must* justify the grade you give. In your written justification, please address each of the grading criteria explicitly. Please write at least 2 sentences of explanation for each of the criteria listed below.

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What a good answer will contain and what the grader should consider in the grade and justification:

(1) First Paragraph(s) - Background/Framing - 10 points

Good responses will begin with one or more paragraphs that "frame" the topic. By "framing" we mean discussing the larger issues around the question. This could involve talking about the topic at a very high or broad level.

Thus, the first paragraph of your answer should give the "big picture" or "environment." Because you do not have room to answer your question fully, show that you could have if you had had enough room. Show how broad your answer could be if you had the space. Or show the general environment.

One possible way to do this would be to state, for example: "This answer falls under the general heading of XYZ, which ABC [1996] describes in further detail, stating ... Within this general area, my answer will focus on ..."

Then the rest of the response would address your actual question in detail.

Note: simply defining your topic does not count as background/framing, unless you show a broad definition and then focus down in on a particular point. You can include a definition if relevant, but this cannot be the primary part of your background/framing.

Grading: great - 10; good - 8; ok - 5; poor - 3
Justification: fully explain your grade with at least 2 sentences

(2) All Sides of the Issues - 20 points

The response should consider all sides or facets of the issues. Most good questions could be answered from several viewpoints. All viewpoints should be considered. The length restrictions might prohibit exploring each in depth, but each should be at least mentioned.

When answering questions, try to explicitly state:

• under what conditions does this answer apply
• pros and cons / advantages and disadvantages
• different viewpoints
• viewpoints of all concerned stakeholders (e.g., company and employees, management and underlings, general public and government, professionals and universities)

Answers could, for example, include paragraphs that start out with "it depends upon..." or "on the one hand..." - and then explain the different things the answer depends upon.

Grading: great - 20; good - 15; ok - 10; poor - 5 (fully explain your grade)

(3) Synthesis References - 15 points

Does the answer utilize at least 4 references from the class readings from at least 3 different themes (weekly topics)? The references may be from the articles or the text chapters (Zwass 1992, Zwass 1998, Davis & Olsen). At least 2 of these references must be from the articles. At least 4 references must come from the assigned readings for this class. (In the extra credit category below, if the grader decides to give you extra credit for citing additional readings, you must first have included at least 4 references from the class readings.)

Also, the answer must clearly show *how* each reference is used. Here are some examples:

• As XYZ (1999) stated ...
• ABC (1992) explains this in detail, covering the following general items: ...
• DEF (1997) describes the XYZ framework, which uses ...

Grading:

4 references from at least 3 different weekly topics
* clear how each reference is used: 15 points
* not clear how each reference is used: 8 points

3 references from at least 3 different weekly topics
* clear how each reference is used: 12 points
* not clear how each reference is used: 6 points

3 or 4 references from 2 different weekly topics
* clear how each reference is used: 10 points
* not clear how each reference is used: 5 points

2 references from at least 2 different weekly topics
* clear how each reference is used: 8 points
* not clear how each reference is used: 4 points

Reference(s) from only one weekly topic: 1 point

Justification: fully explain your grade with at least 2 sentences

(4) Synthesis Quality - 15 points

Synthesis involves creating new ideas or meanings by putting together or contrasting different ideas. Here are some questions to help judge the quality of the synthesis:

• Did the answer draw insightful conclusions through the synthesis?
• Did analyzing the materials from the different weeks' themes allow the author to draw interesting conclusions/make interesting points, which couldn't be made without the synthesis?
• Did the answer successfully pull together ideas from the different weeks' concepts?
• Were the various class materials used effectively in this analysis?

Grading: great - 15; good - 12; ok - 9; poor - 5
Justification: fully explain your grade with at least 2 sentences

(5) Justify your points - 10 points

Are all points and opinions well justified (adequately backed up/explained why)?

Grading: great - 10; good - 8; ok - 5; poor - 3
Justification: fully explain your grade with at least 2 sentences

(6) General Quality - 30 points

Is the answer well thought-through and insightful?

Given that there is a severe length restriction, does it cover most of the important issues and cite most (or all) of the appropriate class readings?

Is the answer clear?

Grading: great - 30; good - 25; ok - 20; moderate - 15; fairly poor - 10; very poor - 5 (fully explain your grade)
(moderate is between OK and poor)
Justification: fully explain your grade with at least 2 sentences

(7) Extra Credit - up to 5 points

Was the answer exceptional in some way? If so, you can award extra points, but you must explain why.

Grading:

• exceptional in some way (state how) - extra 3 points
• exceptional in multiple ways (state how) - extra 5 points

(8) Follows Editing Guidelines - negative points

Have the answer been prooofread? Are the spelling and grammar correct? (Fully explain any points taken off!)

Grading (maximum of 5 points off):

• proofread, with correct spelling and grammar - full credit
• a few spelling mistakes: minus 1 point
• several spelling mistakes: minus 3 points
• a few grammatical mistakes: minus 1 point
• several grammatical mistakes: minus 3 points

(9) Length - negative points

Is the answer less than 1300 words, including tables, but not including the bibliography/reference section?

Grading:

• 1301 - 1325 words: minus 3 points
• 1326 - 1400 words: minus 5 points
• 1400 - 1600 words: minus 10 points
• > 1600 words: minus 15 points

You can copy and paste the answer into Microsoft Word or some other word processor and use the word count tool to check this. Be sure not to count the words in the question asked or in the bibliography/reference section.