Life is a combination of emotional problems and math problems. The same is true of grading. But, as much as possible, I like to insist that emotional problems are not my problem. I make grades a very straightforward math equation by using grading rubrics.
A grading rubric is system of accounting for every point that can be earned in the class. At the end of the semester, a final grade is submitted in letter form, but the letter is generally equal to a numerical percentage. So all (or nearly all) classes can be constructed around a 100 point system.
The first step in the rubric is also often the last step for many instructors. That's the step you take on the syllabus of proportioning various assignments into the 100 percentage points. Here's a hypothetical example:
Attendance: 10%
Participation: 10%
Midterm: 25%
Final: 25%
Journals: 15%
Paper: 15%
Usually we use numbers divisible by 5 or 10 to keep it simple.
A grading rubric forces you to then account
s o c i o l o g i c a l c u r i o s i t y