Re: Grade inflation - an easy explanation?

2003-01-14 Thread Seth H. Giertz
If that were the case, why weren’t grades easy to
begin with?  Why did grade inflation begin to occur
when it did (the 1960s??)?  I doubt it was because
grading time increased?

Grading can take a lot of time, but at research
universities, faculty often don’t do their own
grading.  Multiple choice exams (or having fewer exams
or graded assignments) can also save time, without
necessitating grade inflation.

Seth Giertz

--- fabio guillermo rojas
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 Has anybody tested the hypothesis that professors
 assign easy grades
 because it sucks up too much time?
 
 Consider the costs of tough grading - spending more
 time correcting
 papers, extra time spent arguing grades with
 students and the extra effort
 it takes to design challenging tests and
 assignments. 
 
 Fabio  
 
 
 


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Re: Grade inflation - an easy explanation?

2003-01-14 Thread AdmrlLocke
In the Rhetoric Department at Iowa instructors who tried to actually teach 
writing  and therefore generated many student complaints were offered out of 
their contracts--that is, forced out--because the chair and assistant chair 
didn't want to deal with student complaints.

In a message dated 1/14/03 2:17:30 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


Has anybody tested the hypothesis that professors assign easy grades
because it sucks up too much time?

Consider the costs of tough grading - spending more time correcting
papers, extra time spent arguing grades with students and the extra effort
it takes to design challenging tests and assignments. 

Fabio  




Re: Grade inflation - an easy explanation?

2003-01-14 Thread fabio guillermo rojas

Also consider the possibility that many departments get budgets based on
enrollments - and tough grades scare students away! Fabio 

On Tue, 14 Jan 2003 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 In the Rhetoric Department at Iowa instructors who tried to actually teach 
 writing  and therefore generated many student complaints were offered out of 
 their contracts--that is, forced out--because the chair and assistant chair 
 didn't want to deal with student complaints.
 
 In a message dated 1/14/03 2:17:30 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
 
 
 Has anybody tested the hypothesis that professors assign easy grades
 because it sucks up too much time?
 
 Consider the costs of tough grading - spending more time correcting
 papers, extra time spent arguing grades with students and the extra effort
 it takes to design challenging tests and assignments. 
 
 Fabio  
 





Re: Grade inflation - an easy explanation?

2003-01-14 Thread Arham Choudhury
 Has anybody tested the hypothesis that professors
 assign easy grades
 because it sucks up too much time?

Hi,

I am intersted in a related question. Are grades of
new and/or 'experimental' classes intentionally
inflated? 

New classes often suffer from poor attendance and an
initial bout of 'inflation' may be a good way to get
more students to enroll.

Thanks
Arham

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