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Analysis on the dangerous myth of grade inflation
Analysis on the dangerous myth of grade inflation
Grade Inflation Gone Wild
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Synthesis Essay: Grade Inflation
Grade inflation is a problem because it gives students a false sense of their ability to perform. For a student's future, grade inflation means not having to put in the same amount of effort to achieve the grade they would want from high school and college. Grade inflation can be seen as a negative thing; it increased during the Vietnam War, when students became consumers in colleges, creates an easy path for advanced students, and can negatively affect the younger generation. A possible solution would be to slowly decrease the grade inflation, maybe so minimalist that it isn't clearly noticed.
There was an inflation of grades during the Vietnam War because “[i]n the 1960s, full-time male college students were exempt from the military draft. If a male college student flunked out, chances were that he would end up as a soldier” (Rojstaczer). With the draft
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Obviously, “grades are higher now as compared with [the past], that does not constitute proof that they are inflated” (Kohn). Kohn makes a valid point that just because grades are higher does not there has been an increase, but based on the graph in Rojstaczer’s article, there is a massive increase in what the average grade being received is around the time of the Vietnam War. We all can agree that over time, the course of education changes and how students are being taught; so, “[n]o one has ever demonstrated that students today get A’s for the same work that used to receive B’s or C’s” (Kohn). Things have not been demonstrated that the same work is getting A’s now from B’s and C’s in the past because different things are being taught. In order to measure the difference between the past and now would mean that the same material would have to be taught and the same test is given. Any alterations would throw off the data for the
In his essay, "Why Colleges Shower Their Students With A’s,” Staples claims that student grades are increasing for the wrong reasons, causing college degrees to become meaningless. Staples provides evidence that average grades have increased significantly over the last several decades, but claims that it is not because students are working harder. The real explanation for grade inflation, he argues, is the effect of grades on both students and their professors. Teachers give more A’s to receive better evaluations and increase job security. Students give more importance to their grades as a result of the rapidly increasing cost of a college education. Staples argues that modern
Ultimately, by these students tieing their self image to getting the highest possible grade it can lead them to some serious Problems, the students not learning to their full potential, and negatively affect their career. Grades play a role in education but grades should not define a student like it does today.
Staples wrote, “Professors at every level inflate to escape negative evaluations by students, whose opinions now figure in tenure and promotion decisions”. (935) to tell the truth, I disagree with Staples opinion. I ponder on if it really the students or is it the professor. If a couple of students leave a bad review that will not make the professor look bad if they are giving them the grades they deserve. Why are the students in charge of the professor’s job? That is a question no one can answer. There are several aspect to consider whether or not the professor could be doing the job for the money or have too much pride in letting others see them do bad. Those aspects should be taking into consideration when speaking about grade inflation. I feel as if Staples is putting more blame on the students and parents than the teachers and administrators. Even if colleges use Staples’ proposal colleges are still faced competition among online universities. Students who attend a college campus generally end up in debt causing more people to steer toward receiving their diplomas online. Therefore, grade inflation will continue to rise because of the fear among
The author was a freshman at Princeton University when this article was written. He seems to have enough drive and determination in order to embrace grade deflation compared to his peers, who complained and disagreed with the grading system, which is what started this essay.
This GI Bill in turn created a major expansion of the nation's higher education system and made college a cornerstone of middle-class American life. Although the GI Bill is still in existence, the effects of the bill has been limited due to the high costs of college today. A plan that was once extremely successful is no longer as effective. Free education, during this time, did, in fact, create jobs and improve the economic standing of America and can still help societies
Many people in the 1960s and early 1970s did not understand why the United States was involved in the Vietnam War. Therefore, they had no desire to be a part of it. The Selective Service System, which was used to conduct the draft, had aspirations of directing people into areas where they were most needed during wartime. However, people took advantage of the draft system’s deferment policies to avoid going to war. Others refused induction or simply did not register. There were also people who left the country to escape the draft. The Vietnam War proved to be an event that many Americans did not agree with, and as a result, citizens took action to elude the draft entirely or to beat the draft system.
According the three leading effects of grading outlined in Kohn’s paper, the number one effect of grading is “grades tend to reduce students' interest in being taught.” I would agree with his argument grading and testing puts pressure on getting excellent grades and takes the focus off understanding and on “performing” acceptably. When I was younger, I was ferocious reading lately the only reading I accomplish is required for a class or studying a textbook. It was enjoyable since I loved reading; I was not required to read all the books I read due to my genuine love for reading and words. Because of that, I excelled in English.
Back in 1969 getting a C on a test or homework was an acceptable grade. However, as the days go by, it seems that getting a C is like having the “mark of Cain.” Why is that? A professor from Duke University and a visiting scholar at Stanford University, Stuart Rojstaczer, asked that same question. After doing his own research, he wrote the article “Where All Grades Are Above Average” which analyzes the phenomena that is commonly known as grade inflation in several universities and colleges. Rojstaczer explains, “the previous signs of academic disaster, the grades D and F, went by the wayside in the Vietnam era, when flunking out meant becoming eligible for the draft.” Many parts of the United States disagreed with the country’s involvement
Grades do motivate students to do better but, grades cause students to want to get a good grade instead of fully mastering the material. They look at school just trying to pass which promotes cheating on tests and homework. They also will choose the material that is the easiest and choose a class with a professor who doesn’t care to raise their GPA. School is supposed to be about learning and understanding new material to help gain knowledge and a new way of thinking.
In conclusion, I believe that the grade system is important to the success of the students so can know where they stand in a course as far as grades are concern, and they are able to motivate themselves to light their grades up higher than before as well as the Instructors can see where students need help and they can play an important role in a students career as far as them knowing what areas they need assisting in so they might succeed.
The Consequences of Grade Inflation When students arrive at university, professors expect them to understand the material to an exceptional standard. The problem is that grade inflation is occurring more regularly in secondary schools and universities across the country and when these students’ marks are sent to universities or colleges, the student may be given multiple scholarships for something that he/she should not have earned. Grade inflation is conceived between both students and teachers, meaning that the students are given higher grades when they have inadequate learning, reading, and verbal skills, while the teachers do not have to grade as many papers as they should in the real curriculum. There have been multiple examinations that have confirmed that grade inflation is very real and still occurs today. Students seem to think that they do not need to put forth much effort in school to do well, and grade inflation encourages this thought.
One of the issues, which Boyer points out , is that teachers and students have different expectations from college education. She says that the teachers are mainly concerned about students’ comprehension of the material, their attendance and attention while students’ hopes are to get good grades and to be well prepared for exams. It seems that the system of grading pushes students to not care too much about what is being taught from an understanding perspective, but only promotes more concern about grades instead. Some students don't really pay attention unless the instructor mentions an exam or something that will be graded. Furthermore, be...
Despite the world being full of diverse people with varying accomplishments and skill sets, people oftentimes assume the qualities and traits of an individual based purely on the stereotypes set forth by society. Although these stereotypes are unavoidable, an individual can be liberated, empowered and ultimately overcome these stereotypes by obtaining an advanced education.
Did you know that schools in some places are actually giving kids money for good grades? If schools wish students to be self-motivated and have a desire for learning because it’s valuable to them, then schools should not pay students for excellent grades. Paying students for good grades can lead to kids having pressure to earn good grades. In addition, the students who are payed will not succeed academically in the long run. Also, they are not self-motivated so when they are not getting paid they will stop trying. From pressuring to get good grades, not succeeding academically in the long run, and not having self-motivation, there are several negative effects of paying students for marvelous grades.
The public high schools began a grading system as a way of telling an individual how they were performing. There was no interest by the public in reporting the school’s progress at teaching. Teachers, in an effort to recognize outstanding performers, looked for a way of rewarding hard-working students for their efforts The grading structure changed from superior and excellent to A’s and B’s. This placed much of the burden of recognizing academic talent on the high schools.