The benefits of a system in which the papers of each instructor's students are graded by another instructor are described. (JH)

A variety of opinions from headmasters of schools and admissions officers of colleges were cited as evidence for the practice of continuing usage of grades as indicators for evaluating student progress. (RK)

Adaptations of and variations on the grade contract system are described with emphasis on individualized instruction, fair evaluation, and learner-oriented classes. The method used is described, and results are assessed. (Author/RM)

Students in nine classes were randomly assigned to treatment groups receiving (1) written comments on their homework papers or (2) no comments. In two of the classes, the students receiving comments showed achievement superior to that of the others. In the remainder of the classes there was no difference. (SD)

Evaluation is a vexed issue in North America at the moment. This paper discusses some of the factors that bear on evaluation procedures and practices in the College of Education of the University of Saskatchewan. It highlighted problems confronting instructors and offered four suggestions for their amelioration. (Editor/RK)

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…