Bonus Item That is Only Applied Within a Grade Category

This type of bonus item is not applied to the overall final grade calculation, but instead to a grade category. For example, this setup is useful if you want to give bonus points towards only homework grades that are within a Homework Assignments category in the gradebook.

For a Points Grading System:

  1. On the nav bar, click the Assessment menu, then select Grades.
    Grades on Nav Bar
  2. Click the Manage Grades tab.
    Manage Grades
  3. Click on the New button and select Item.
    New Grade Item
  4. Select Numeric as the grade type.
    Numeric Grade Item
  5. Give the item a Name.
    Name
  6. Since the bonus item is part of a category, select the appropriate category.
    InClass Assignments Category
    Important! In order for students’ grades to not exceed the maximum value for the category (e.g. be restricted to the category), ensure that within the category the box for Can Exceed is NOT checked.
    Edit Bonus Grade ItemCan Exceed
  7. Specify the Maximum Points possible for the bonus item. Note: The maximum points for the bonus item should be determined based on the total points possible in the category. For example, if you want the bonus item to be worth 2% of the category, and there are 500 total points possible in the category, then the maximum points possible for the bonus item should be 10 (2% of 500).
    Maximum Points Bonus
  8. Check the box under Can Exceed if students will have the option of earning more than the maximum points possible (i.e. 11 points) for this bonus grade item.
    Can Exceed
  9. IMPORTANT! Check the box under Bonus to indicate that this is an optional bonus grade item.
    bonus checkbox
  10. Leave the box to Exclude from Final Grade Calculation unchecked.
    Exclude from Final Grade Calculation
  11. Click Save and Close.
  12. A yellow star icon will appear in the instructor’s view on the Manage Grades page to indicate the item as a bonus item.
    Bonus Grade Item Star

For a Weighted Grading System:

  1. On the nav bar, click the Assessment menu, then select Grades.
    Grades on Nav Bar
  2. Click the Manage Grades tab.
    Manage Grades
  3. Click on the New button and select Item.
    New Grade Item
  4. Select Numeric as the grade type.
    Numeric Grade Item
  5. Give the item a Name.
    Name
  6. Since the bonus item is part of a category, select the appropriate category.
    InClass Assignments Weighted CategoryImportant! In order for students’ grades to not exceed the maximum weight of the category (e.g. be restricted to the category), ensure that within the category the box for Allow category grade to exceed category weight is NOT selected.
    Edit Bonus Grade ItemCategory not exceed weight
  7. Specify Maximum Points possible and the Weight for the bonus item. As with other weight-based grade items, the maximum points can be any amount based on the nature of the assignment.
    Bonus Weight Points
  8. Check the box under Can Exceed if students will have the option of earning more than the maximum points possible (i.e. 11 points) for this bonus grade item.
    Can Exceed
  9. IMPORTANT! Check the box under Bonus to indicate that this is an optional bonus grade item.
    bonus checkbox
  10. Click Save and Close.
  11. A yellow star icon will appear in the instructor’s view on the Manage Grades page to indicate the item as a bonus item.
    Weighted Bonus Item Star