The reliability and validity of essay scoring were investigated by comparing the mean scores assigned to good and poor quality essay responses of different lengths. Long responses had a significantly higher mean than responses of short or moderate length. Good quality responses were graded significantly higher than poor quality responses. (Author)

In setting policy on the impact of attendance on grades and graduation requirements, both educational and legal considerations must be examined. The author questions whether students should be evaluated on the time they endure in school or by their ability to know, understand, and apply course substance. (Author/IRT)

Describes the benefits to be derived from a system of grading in which every student's paper is read by two teachers. (DD)

Encourages teachers not to grade each individual student composition, but instead to grade papers only at the end of each semester. (DD)

An English composition teacher compares instructions in a tap-dancing class to learning the basic skills of writing. (PBS)

A defense is presented for allowing all students a reasonable chance to make an "A," based on the belief that competition often works to the detriment of many students. (DS)

More than 700 five-minute timed writings were administered to over 350 postsecondary keyboarding students to determine the gross words a minute achieved and errors not corrected. The data were used to establish grading standards for speed and accuracy. (JOW)

Presents an English teacher's irreverent look at grades and grading. Argues that learning must somehow be linked to a product, which must be measured or graded to gauge the worth of the product according to the merit it deserves. (RS)

Just as students are being held accountable with standardized testing, schools in many states are being judged by scores on these tests. This article discusses evaluation variables and factors that influence how well children perform on tests, explains school assessment, then focuses on Indiana, where there has been public argument about the…

Shows how to assure fairness in grading essay exams by having students place a code number instead of their names on their essays. Notes that student reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Argues that the approach can be used in a wide variety of educational circumstances. (RS)

Examines the application of the spreadsheet program Lotus 1-2-3 to design a computerized gradebook that saves time in assessing students' strengths and weaknesses in a proficiency-oriented foreign language classroom. Sample entries are shown in text and Appendices. (Author/LMO)

Examines current grading practices of business communication instructors in four-year colleges and universities. (MM)

Identifies counterproductive grading policies and practices, such as varying grading scales; worshipping averages; using zeros indiscriminantly; following the assign, test, grade, and teach pattern; failing to match testing to teaching; ambushing students; grading first efforts; establishing inconsistent criteria; and failing to recognize…

Argues, from the point of view of an undergraduate engineering student, that making the pass/fail grading system mandatory for college freshman composition students will help them achieve the goal of learning to write. (SR)