Pedagogy Oct 2024

Navigating Labor-Based Grading Contracts

Kara K. Larson

Abstract

Abstract This article explores the impact of labor-based grading contracts on student attitudes and perceptions within multilingual First-Year Composition (FYC) sections at an R1 university. Data collected qualitatively and quantitatively examined correlations between labor-based grading contracts and shifts in student attitudes toward writing and overall learning experiences. Findings revealed that some students found labor-based grading contracts motivating, leading to improved attitudes toward writing, while others found themselves demotivated or stressed by the absence of traditional grades. The concept of fairness emerged as a key concern, challenging the assumption that labor-based grading contracts universally benefit students. This article underscores the need for nuanced implementation of labor-based grading contracts and encourages a student-centered approach to foster equitable and antiracist writing assessment practices. It acknowledges the potential benefits of labor-based contract grading, but also its associated challenges, and calls for a critical examination of grading contracts within local contexts to ensure they genuinely advance opportunities for underrepresented students.

Journal
Pedagogy
Published
2024-10-01
DOI
10.1215/15314200-11246367
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
first-year composition assessment race and writing
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

References (14) · 2 in this index

  1. Ahmed (2007)
    A Phenomenology of Whiteness
    Feminist Theory  ↗
  2. Carillo (2021)
    The Hidden Inequities in Labor-Based Contract Grading
     ↗
  3. Craig Sherri . 2021. “Your Contract Grading Ain't It.” WPA: Writing Prog…
  4. Inman et al. (2018)
    In the Absence of Grades: Dissonance and Desire in Course-Contract Classrooms
    College Composition and Communication
  5. Inoue (2012)
    Grading Contracts: Assessing Their Effectiveness on Different Racial Formations
Show all 14 →
  1. Inoue Asao B. 2015. Antiracist Writing Assessment Ecologies: …
     ↗
  2. Inoue (2016)
    Friday Plenary Address: Racism in Writing Programs and the CWPA
    WPA: Writing Program Administration
  3. Inoue Asao B . 2019. Labor-Based Grading Contracts: Building Equity and …
     ↗
  4. Krashen (2002)
    Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Learning
  5. Poe , Mya, InoueAsao B., and ElliotNorbert. 2018. Writing Assessment, Social Justice, …
  6. Royster Jacqueline Jones , and KirschGesa E. 2012. Feminist Rhetorical P…
  7. Schwarz Virginia M . 2020. (De)Norming Classroom Merit: Grading Contract…
  8. Spidell , Cathy, and ThelinWilliam H.2006. “Not Ready to Let Go: A Study of Resistance…
  9. Wright et al. (2019)
    A validation program for the Self-Beliefs, Writing-Beliefs, and Attitude Survey…
    Assessing Writing
CrossRef global citation count: 0 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Pedagogy Oct 2024
    Contributors ↗
    rhetorical criticism first-year composition writing pedagogy basic writing writing across the curriculum graduate education two-year college service learning teacher development revision argument collaborative writing assessment writing program administration multimodality multilingual writers literacy studies race and writing disability studies community literacy editorial matter
  2. Pedagogy Apr 2024
    To Reimagine . . . To Start Again ↗
    Zachary C. Beare; Jessica Masterson; Shari J. Stenberg
    rhetorical criticism first-year composition writing pedagogy graduate education teacher development argument assessment writing program administration professional writing labor and working conditions multimodality race and writing gender and writing affect and writing editorial matter
  3. Pedagogy Oct 2023
    Contributors ↗
    rhetorical criticism first-year composition writing pedagogy writing across the curriculum two-year college teacher development collaborative writing assessment writing centers qualitative research multimodality literacy studies race and writing gender and writing disability studies affect and writing literary studies book reviews editorial matter
  4. Rhetoric Society Quarterly May 2022
    Full Disclosure: Black Rhetoric, Writing Assessment, and Afrocentric Rubrics ↗
    Wonderful Faison
    rhetorical criticism discourse analysis african american rhetorics first-year composition writing pedagogy argument assessment race and writing
  5. Pedagogy Jan 2022
    Contributors ↗
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism genre theory discourse analysis african american rhetorics decolonial rhetorics first-year composition writing pedagogy basic writing writing across the curriculum graduate education teacher development argument collaborative writing transfer assessment portfolios writing program administration writing centers peer tutoring technical communication professional writing archival research digital rhetoric social media grammar and mechanics literacy studies race and writing gender and writing disability studies public rhetoric community literacy literary studies editorial matter