YES the title is 69,
I'm assuming you all want to know why.
Today, I received a result with feedback for an essay, which was graded at 69, the highest 2:1. I also received a lecture about how to write an essay. Counterintuitive at best. This is for two reasons.
1) I was one mark off a 1st. ONE MARK . I could have tried to ensure that I got that 1st, granted, but with such a level of work I struggle to see why I should be lectured on standards. I referenced correctly, I used a broad range of topics. It makes one ask the question 'why should I bother?' It creates a paradigm in which success feels like it is being punished.
2) Essay writing style is a very personal thing. You can't teach it. You can take issue with spelling; grammar; lexis; etc, but these issues are supposed to be ground out at school. Don't teach children how to spell, it will affect them in later life. As a self professed 'Grammar Nazi' I find it hard to work out how people can spell words incorrectly. Obviously I'm not saying that every word is easy, having studied the dhammacakkappavattana sutta last semester in world religions I know this as well as anyone, but you should be able to tell your variations of similar words apart (you're/your; it's/its). That said, if you haven't learned by now, will you ever? Should special dispensation be given to those who never acquired the ability to spell and hope that we do better with the next generation?
Well, no. We should have done it right in the bloody first place.
