I thought grading on a curve was illegal or against the rules or frowned upon or just not done anymore... or something. I guess I just don't understand why it's done that way, other than to fuck some students up and to improperly reward others (no offense).
Oh, no offense taken. It benefited me, but it was still bullshit. It's like an asterisk on my Phi Kappa Phi membership.
It occurs to me now that maybe 101-level courses were graded...oh, let's say "gently"...because of all the people (like me) knocking out requirements that had nothing to do with what they'd eventually do. And so, if I'd taken the next level up in science courses, I would have been rudely surprised to find myself flunking. But none of my fuzzy-study courses graded on the curve, at any level. Professor's choice, perhaps.
There's multiple ways to do a curve (http://worthwhile.typepad.com/worthwhile_canadian_initi/2012/10/the-optimal-exam-question.html). I think you're thinking of only one of them.
Edit: Oops, not the link I was looking for, but it does give a list of reason to curve a class.
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Date: 2012-12-12 09:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-12-12 09:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-12-12 09:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-12-12 09:57 am (UTC)It occurs to me now that maybe 101-level courses were graded...oh, let's say "gently"...because of all the people (like me) knocking out requirements that had nothing to do with what they'd eventually do. And so, if I'd taken the next level up in science courses, I would have been rudely surprised to find myself flunking. But none of my fuzzy-study courses graded on the curve, at any level. Professor's choice, perhaps.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-12-12 01:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-12-12 01:37 pm (UTC)Edit: Oops, not the link I was looking for, but it does give a list of reason to curve a class.