Focusing on current grading practices, this report details a survey of 443 respondents from both four- and two-year institutions of higher education. The data are compared with a 1973-74 survey of the same institutions. Findings show that in general more stringent policies are enforced in the use of nontraditional grading practices, in making-up…

An analysis of criticism leveled against student grading is presented, and a rebuttal is offered. Twenty-two criticisms of grades are divided into four categories; that grades are meaningless, unimportant, unnecessary, and harmful. In response to the criticism, it is pointed out that grading tends to motivate student achievement, provides rewards…

The 18 essays in this volume originated as talks given at the Yale Conferences on the Teaching of English. The first nine discuss where and how to begin writing, the subject matter and organization of student compositions, the relation of writing to reading and grammar, methods used to mark papers, and the evaluation and function of both…

The purposes of this bulletin are (1) to help teachers understand that evaluation is an essential part of the total composing process and involves both teacher and student, and (2) to establish evaluative criteria which reflect realistic objectives for the teaching of writing to students of varying abilities and age groups. Charts for both…

Information obtained from the 1973 Davis Student Survey regarding the perception of students at the University of California at Davis concerning the academic side of campus life is presented. The information is summarized and discussed in five sections: class activity, student faculty relations, academic preparation, learning support services, and…

Information on the responsibilities related to teaching undergraduate college students is provided in this handbook for teaching assistants (TA). Chapters cover: administrative details, such as ordering books, submitting time schedules, getting a classroom, and working with a professor; teaching, including guidelines for giving lectures, leading a…

The main argument is that standards for certifying teachers are too lax. It is argued that this might have been acceptable when there was a shortage of teachers, but, now that there is an oversupply of teachers, it is time to certify only the best qualified. The author criticizes certification practices which ignore thoretical standards and…

Various procedures and guidelines have been suggested for the development and construction of criterion-referenced tests. The present paper proposes a comprehensive model which allows the user to identify and relate specific components which affect the optimal construction and implementation strategies of criterion-referenced tests. Furthermore,…

This 1975 faculty handbook is designed to provide the university community with a brief but comprehensive review of policies and procedures. Separate handbooks cover policies and procedures for staff and students. Much of the material covered is summarized in a form that does not cover all the details of complex policies or laws. In matters of…

Although over 100 million tests are administered each year and testing is a subject of increasing contention among students, faculty members remain diffident. A better understanding of the purpose and structure of evaluating mechanisms is a prerequisite for widespread improvement. Teachers must understand what factors play a part in measuring…

This paper argues for an educational orientation to American studies in high school that contributes toward individual growth and a sense of compassion toward humanity. According to the author, conventional schooling is a process of training youth to fit into out society by internalizing the accepted behavior and attitudinal norms. The student…

This report of the Curriculum Commission at Concordia examines all aspects of the academic program and sets forth recommendations for its improvement and reform. Chapter 1 discusses reasons for a curriculum study, and Chapter 2 looks at the goals of a liberal arts education in a Christian college. Chapter 3 deals with the curriculum itself, and…

The research presented in this paper shows that the norm-referenced grades assigned by teachers are significantly related to the students' self concept assessments and mental health status. Data from a sample of 318 fifth grade students of lower, middle, and upper socio-economic classes indicate that some of the influence which norm-referenced…

The purpose of this project was to help implement the change from traditional instructional programs in teacher education at Jackson State College, Mississippi, to programs which are competency-based, starting with the faculty and interns of Jackson State College-Hinds County Teacher Corps Program. From July 1970 through July 1971, 36 interns…

Examines the experience of reading student writing by holding it against current views of reading from literary theory and composition studies. Describes this experience as a concentrated effort at once to read and not to "read" the student writing. (MS)