All grading is done using letter grades because it is easier to recover from a poor performance using letter grades then when raw scores are used. Exams will include multiple choice questions, essays, and problems. Essay questions and papers will be graded for coherence, conciseness, clarity, use of standard English, and responsiveness to the requirements of the question. Coherence requires that ideas be arranged logically. A paragraph is coherent when the relationship between sentences is logical.
Coherence also requires that the relationship among sections be readily apparent.
Conciseness is achieved by using as few words as possible while still ensuring that important points are covered. Also, knowledge is best expressed by using short paragraphs composed of short sentences. Short paragraphs limited to the development of one principal idea better emphasize the main points in an answer. Clear writing is understandable and readable. It involves using words with specific and precise meaning and structuring sentences simply.