Pedagogy Oct 2024

A Sociocognitive Grading Model for First-Year Writing Classes

Jessica Nastal

Abstract

Abstract This article offers a theory of action model for grading in first-year writing classes, as enacted at two public, suburban, Midwestern two-year colleges. First, it analyzes labor-based contract grading and specifications grading through this model, examining how these popular grading methods have manifested in unintended negative consequences for historically and multiply marginalized students. Then, it proposes a sociocognitive grading model designed to maximize course-level success rates for New Majority college students. The sociocognitive model was iteratively built on feminist standpoint theory, intersectional learning sciences, multilingual writing pedagogy, and disability studies. Thus far, student course-level success has improved, along with their learning in four domains of a robust writing construct: intrapersonal, interpersonal, cognitive, and health. While it does not prescribe specific patterns of response, this model nevertheless establishes an overall referential frame that holds the potential to incorporate empirically based best response practices.

Journal
Pedagogy
Published
2024-10-01
DOI
10.1215/15314200-11246335
Open Access
Closed
Topics
first-year composition writing pedagogy two-year college multimodality disability studies multilingual writers

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Nastal (2024)
    Ungrading in the Ethical Turn as an Assessment Killjoy
    Teaching English in the Two-Year College

Cites in this index (6)

  1. Messina et al. (2023)
    Prompting Reflection: Using Corpus Linguistic Methods in the Local Assessment o…
    Written Communication
  2. Tayles (2021)
    Feature: Trauma-Informed Writing Pedagogy: Ways to Support Student Writers Affe…
    Teaching English in the Two-Year College
  3. Wood (2017)
    Cripping Time in the College Composition Classroom
    College Composition and Communication
  4. Inoue (2014)
    Theorizing Failure in US Writing Assessments
    Research in the Teaching of English
  5. Danielewicz et al. (2009)
    A Unilateral Grading Contract to Improve Learning and Teaching
    College Composition and Communication
Show all 6 →
  1. Haswell et al. (2009)
    Hospitality in College Composition Courses
    College Composition and Communication
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CrossRef global citation count: 1 View in citation network →

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