Mike Smith:
Becky, this week we’ve been talking about the process of writing a research paper and how to teach that in a homeschool. Once a student paper is done, however, parents may feel unsure about how to grade or evaluate it. Do you have any advice to build parents’ confidence there, Becky?

Becky Cooke:
Parents should remember that grading research papers—or any writing assignment—is subjective. But you can use a rubric, which is a simple system of listing the grading categories you might want to include. Next, indicate how much each category will count toward the grade, with the total number of points adding up to 100. Giving this sheet of categories and point totals to the child along with the assignment will let her know up front how her grade will be calculated. Then as you read through the finished product, award points for the relevant categories, which will then be added up for the final grade. For example, let’s say grammar and form is worth 25 points. Read your child’s paper, concentrating on her grammar and form, and give a point total anywhere up to the 25 points. Do this for every category. This system helps you grade the paper, and your child will better understand the grade she receives.

Mike:
Thank you so much for joining us this week, Becky. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.