June 2004

James Ehrmann • A Rant About Grading

April 12, 2004

I think the University of Iowa hates me. Actually, pardon me. I think the University of Iowa finds strong dislike in me (because it’s impossible for anything liberal to hate anything or anyone.) This was most clearly evidenced the week of April 5-9, when all five of my classes decided to have midterms or papers due within this four day period. Luckily, I was ready. Nothing lower than a B+ came out of these examinations.

However, the results of these tests leave my grades in three of my classes hovering helplessly in the dreaded A-, B+ category. This grading category is like that trip to the dentist you never wanted to take. Indeed, the A-, B+ category is perhaps one of the most wretched places to be with only one final left. It’s basically a do-or-die scenario: B on the test ensures a B in the class; A on the test, well, you get the picture. Further compounding this wretched situation is the sour realization that an A- is not an A credit for a course because it’s not worth 4 points. Thus, you can be a straight A student with all A minuses and have nothing close to a 4.0.

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