Arguing

Topic 3 : Should college classes be graded pass/fail rather than with a letter grade ?

The Pros of Keeping Letter Grades

         The use of letter grades when assigning students marks has sparked some controversy. Some claim that letter grades are misleading because using only a few letters (A to E) doesn't allow for nuance as percentage points (0 to 100) would. However, letter grades do offer several advantages over other styles of grading, such as percentage points or pass/fail. The other advantages of letter grades are simplicity, correcting for grades and forcing evaluators to provide explanations. First, the advantage of letter grade is simplicity. Letter grades are simple and, generally, universally understood. Using the letters "A" to "E" to grade students is known throughout the world and sets a simple and accessible standard. Grades can be assigned quickly using letter grades and can be sorted in broad categories for student evaluation or other purposes. Second, the advantage of letter grade is correcting for grader error. Letter grades represent a broader range than percentage point but aren't as broad as pass/fail. While it may be difficult to tell the difference between 74 percent and a 76 percent, it is easier to tell the difference between an "A" and a "B" paper, especially if criteria are set out in a rubric or elsewhere. By providing a range within the letter grade, the effects of small errors in judgment by the grader, over or undergrading by a few percentage points are eliminated. The last advantage of letter grade is forcing evaluators to provide explanations. Letter grades may also force evaluators to provide greater justification for their grades. While a percentage score seems precise, it may be just as imprecise as any other form of grading, especially if the test or assignment is not true/false or multiple-choice based. Letter grades, when combined with thorough evaluation notes, may be thorough and helpful to students. So, I think we should apply the letter grade in the college classes.

Fatimah Tuzzahra, 3 BIA visit my blog http://fatimahtuzzahra.blogspot.com