Describes an alternative grading system that sets a basic quantity for "C" grades and quality as well as quantity requirements for "B" and "A" grades. Reports positive results from using such a grading system in a freshman poetry course. (RL)

Shows a variety of grades assigned to the same five papers by eight journalism instructors, indicating that grades are products of many factors that receive varying emphasis from different teachers. (RL)

Grades have cultural, educational, psychological, and economic overtones. They serve as an interpretable index of evidence of academic experiences and relative achievement. Professors must state precisely what is expected of students, thus providing structure and direction early in the course. (Author)

Reviews and extends arguments regarding influences of grades and grading structures on student evaluations of instruction. Original arguments were set forth in the Journal of Economic Education. Concludes that grade inflation will encourage students to perceive their education as inferior and will not result, in the long run, in positive course…

Maintains that research in economic education has concentrated on projects for which a quantifiable result is likely. Affirms that course grades and achievement are criteria that are too narrow to measure student performance accurately in economics courses on the college level. Suggests that economists use broader criteria in research and in…

Describes an experiment to determine whether an economics course affected student opinions about economic issues. Findings indicated that students adopted slightly more conservative opinions as a result of taking the economics course. (Author/DB)

Two preventive interventions aimed at reducing the stress of the first year of college for freshmen were evaluated. A written-interactive program was compared to a peer-led group program. The programs differed in the type of students they attracted. Neither was effective in reducing dropout rate or improving grade point average. (Author/MFD)

A list of points to aid essay writers is suggested as the basis of a marking system for the teacher of English as a foreign language. The checklist, obtained from a book on higher education by Ruth Beard, can be adapted to the English as a foreign language situation. (SW)

Recognition of various abilities and skills in university degree work, and the development of an appropriate range of assessment modes to test these abilities, presupposes that students will perform differently under the various forms of assessment. The limited data available to test this supposition are reviewed and analysis of one geography…

Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute's system for grading business courses by proficiency certification in place of the traditional A through F system is described. A certificate is developed for each course, with evaluation of student performance in each area. This system requires a greater volume of paper work and skill analysis but it is…

Describes a contract grading technique which includes assigned and optional laboratory work and the grades attached thereto. (SL)

Attempts a definition of terms and a brief analysis of the philosophical considerations surrounding grading followed by a detailed discussion of specific techniques for assigning grades. (Author/RK)

Provides photocopy-ready lesson aids on story ideas, interviewing, inverted pyramid writing style, newswriting, sports/scavenger hunt, finding feature material, identifying feature leads, feature lead selection, evaluating feature leads, compiling survey material, cutlines, headlines, paste-up rules, advertising, final semester project, newspaper…

The number of seniors eligible for admission to an interdisciplinary honor society from various academic disciplines varied substantially when three methods of selection were compared using grade point average as the criterion. This is the finding from a study of grade inflation and grading standards on student academic award selection. (JN)

The responsibility for assessment in Australia has shifted from state education department and examining authorities to schools, teachers, and in some cases students. Variables operating in assessment procedures used by Australian schools and examination systems, and how the meaning of marks is communicated are described. National implications are…