« Integrators, Traditionalists, Net-Newsers, And The Disengaged |
Main
| The Vietnam Christmases McCain Recalled In 1995 »
19 Aug 2008 08:52 am
Grade Deflation
It works. A reader writes:
I took Mansfield's Gov 1061 on the history of modern political
philosophy, and it was without a doubt the most rewarding experience of
my undergraduate career. After receiving a C+ on my first paper after
I'd turned in the usual, formulaic BS I had for most other classes, I
actually applied myself. And when I got A-s on the next two papers, I
was never more proud of what I'd achieved.
Going into a class knowing that a professor is a notoriously hard
grader weeds out many of the grade-obsessed careerists who
overwhelmingly populate Harvard - a refreshing experience to say the
least. It puts the focus more squarely on actually engaging with ideas
and getting something out of the material. And it certainly doesn't
hurt to get to listen to Mansfield describe sotto voce the philosophy
of Machiavelli, punctuating his points with a closed fist pound of the
podium.
I miss those days.
Share This
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451c45669e200e553f05fe08833
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference 'Grade Deflation'
