Only essay subjects are subjective, because the teacher makes a list of topics and students usually get to choose one that appeals them. The grading is more objective because it usually is based on proper use of language, correct spelling, mechanics, coherence, and proper paragraph structure.
As an instructor, I challenged students to write short, structured essays, i.e., 5 paragraphs with 5 to 7 sentences in each, using topic sentences and transitional devices. Some got it because they were not interested in the topic to begin with. They wrote short, terse essays. Some students could not seem to boil down any topic to its essentials and wrote all over the place, but still got it done close to the limits. One rare example wrote nearly 20 pages and said when asked, Well, I just couldn’t seem to stop writing once I got into it. It was a great essay and she turned out to be quite a writer before she graduated.
Math tests are moving away from the objective — try (and I must repeat and add emphisis) — try to work with Common Core Math (gag). Students now must provide subjective proof of simple equations.
Essay tests are like sex in that you can easily think you’re doing a good job when your grader begs to differ. The difference is that when unsatisfied, an essay grader will ask to see you about it later.
It’s why I got a B in my Library Science Orientation class. The professor didn’t think libraries should provide bibliographic instruction or job information, which I’d written two papers supporting.
I was… um, “blessed” isn’t exactly right… with teachers who were mostly quite good at fairly grading essays and essay questions. Except Mr. Pierce, who was a PE teacher drafted into teaching general science because he had a science minor from ante-diluvian times. He graded “multiple-guess”, “guess the blank”, “True or True” (Also “False or False”) and “Explain why you’re wrong” questions equitably in one sense: Everybody was graded on the curve. The problem was that the curve was a 4 dimensional spirograph depicting his level of confusion about the subject.
The question “What causes the water to flow from the faucet in the 2nd floor of the building?” on a test about hydraulic pressure had Only one correct answer. Nobody got it. His answer: “Turning the handle”.
One test question involved doing a little math: “If a fly travels from my house to your house in 1 minutes and 30 seconds, how fast was it moving?” We demanded that he tell us how far apart the houses were.. which after some thought he did: 2 miles. That would be a REALLY fast fly… but several of us got the same (correct) answer. He was not one of the people who calculated it correctly. The folks who did got 0 points because he was right and could not be disabused. (80 mph)
He was sexist, racist, out of shape, out of his depth, and about to retire. I was very sorry that my friends and I had to put up with his bulloney for a whole year. Total waste of everyone’s time.
RAGs almost 4 years ago
Just remember that 2+2=5, for very large values of 2.
Bilan almost 4 years ago
When kids say that something is too subjective, they really means that they don’t understand it.
Dobby53 Premium Member almost 4 years ago
So, life lesson: Is life like a math assignment (which everyone seems to hate) or an essay assignment?
RussellRogerBe1 almost 4 years ago
Bad news math test…worse news all word problems.
The Legend of Brandon Sawyer Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Beggars can’t be choosers
sandpiper almost 4 years ago
Only essay subjects are subjective, because the teacher makes a list of topics and students usually get to choose one that appeals them. The grading is more objective because it usually is based on proper use of language, correct spelling, mechanics, coherence, and proper paragraph structure.
As an instructor, I challenged students to write short, structured essays, i.e., 5 paragraphs with 5 to 7 sentences in each, using topic sentences and transitional devices. Some got it because they were not interested in the topic to begin with. They wrote short, terse essays. Some students could not seem to boil down any topic to its essentials and wrote all over the place, but still got it done close to the limits. One rare example wrote nearly 20 pages and said when asked, Well, I just couldn’t seem to stop writing once I got into it. It was a great essay and she turned out to be quite a writer before she graduated.
Fido (aka Felix Rex) Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Math tests are moving away from the objective — try (and I must repeat and add emphisis) — try to work with Common Core Math (gag). Students now must provide subjective proof of simple equations.
Stephen Gilberg almost 4 years ago
I guess what this kid wants is the kind of test where you just have to present memorized information. Like spelling.
Stephen Gilberg almost 4 years ago
Essay tests are like sex in that you can easily think you’re doing a good job when your grader begs to differ. The difference is that when unsatisfied, an essay grader will ask to see you about it later.
Dobby53 Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Life is a game of Calvinball. Even more so these days.
gcarlson almost 4 years ago
It’s why I got a B in my Library Science Orientation class. The professor didn’t think libraries should provide bibliographic instruction or job information, which I’d written two papers supporting.
Concretionist almost 4 years ago
I was… um, “blessed” isn’t exactly right… with teachers who were mostly quite good at fairly grading essays and essay questions. Except Mr. Pierce, who was a PE teacher drafted into teaching general science because he had a science minor from ante-diluvian times. He graded “multiple-guess”, “guess the blank”, “True or True” (Also “False or False”) and “Explain why you’re wrong” questions equitably in one sense: Everybody was graded on the curve. The problem was that the curve was a 4 dimensional spirograph depicting his level of confusion about the subject.
The question “What causes the water to flow from the faucet in the 2nd floor of the building?” on a test about hydraulic pressure had Only one correct answer. Nobody got it. His answer: “Turning the handle”.
One test question involved doing a little math: “If a fly travels from my house to your house in 1 minutes and 30 seconds, how fast was it moving?” We demanded that he tell us how far apart the houses were.. which after some thought he did: 2 miles. That would be a REALLY fast fly… but several of us got the same (correct) answer. He was not one of the people who calculated it correctly. The folks who did got 0 points because he was right and could not be disabused. (80 mph)
He was sexist, racist, out of shape, out of his depth, and about to retire. I was very sorry that my friends and I had to put up with his bulloney for a whole year. Total waste of everyone’s time.
bike2sac almost 4 years ago
101=5
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 4 years ago
Posts
Frazz18 hrs · This I have learned: Something can be 100% right or 100% wrong and still be both good news and bad news.