MicroGrade Online is designed to allow categories and assignments to be set up easily and also allows for extra credit categories/assignments and low score dropping. You may also choose to have grades calculated by percent weights or total points.

For the purposes of this tutorial, we will demonstrate using Percent Weights.

1. Click on the title of the class you wish to set up categories and assignments in, on the right-hand side of the page under the My Classes header.

2. Click the Categories and Assignments link displayed on the right-hand side of the page under the class name header.

3. The Categories and Assignments page will appear. Click the Create Category button.

4. The Create Category page will appear. The following items are listed:

• Category Title: The title of your category (e.g. Homework)
• Percent Weight: The percentage this category contributes to the final grade (e.g. 25%).
• Single Assignment Category (Optional): Check this off if the category will be a single assignment only. Typically, you might use this for a final exam or project.
• Extra Credit Category (Optional): Check this off if the category will be extra credit. Any assignments entered into this category will automatically be calculated as extra credit.
• Weigh Assignments: This determines how the assignments in the category will be weighted within the category. There are 3 options available:
  • Equally: Each assignment will receive the same weight. (e.g. 4 assignments will be weighted at 25% each)
  • By Points: Each assignment will receive a weight based on the number of points it is worth.
  • User Specified: You will need to weigh each assignment manually, and the total of the weights must equal 100%.
• Low Scores To Drop (Optional): The number of low scores you wish to drop in this category. (e.g. Entering 1 will drop the lowest score per student in this category)

When you are finished setting up the category, click the Create Category button.

5. The Categories and Assignments page will appear - your category should now be displayed.

If you want to add an assignment to the category you just created:

1. Click the radio button next to the category you want to add the assignment to, then click the Create Assignment button.

2. The Create Assignment page will appear. The following items are listed:

• Assignment Title: The title of your assignment (e.g. Homework Assignment #1)
• Percent Weight: The percentage this assignment contributes to the category (e.g. 25%). If you selected "User Specified" when creating the category this assignment is in, you will need to fill this field in. Otherwise, it will not be editable.
• Maximum Points: The number of points the assignment is worth (e.g. 25)
• Due Date (Optional): The date this assignment is due. You may enter a date manually or you can click the calendar button to select a date
• No Letter Grades (Optional): Check this off if you do not want to have the letter grades displayed for this assignment
• Extra Credit Assignment (Optional): Check this off if the assignment will be extra credit - it will automatically be calculated as extra credit.

When you are finished setting up the assignment, click the Create Assignment button.

3. The Categories and Assignments page will appear - your assignment should now be listed under the category you added it to.