Write for an Academic Discussion

A professor has posted a question about a topic and students have responded with their thoughts and ideas. Make a contribution to the discussion.
You will have 10 minutes to write.

Your professor is teaching a class on psychology.

In your response, you should do the following.

• • Express and support your opinion.
• • Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Professor’s question:

Let's discuss the role of grades in education. For decades, numerical or letter grades have been the primary method for assessing student performance, providing a clear benchmark for progress. However, some educators argue that this system creates unnecessary stress and encourages students to focus on memorization rather than genuine understanding. Do you believe that grades are an effective tool for learning? Why or why not?

Student response 1:

I think grades are an effective and necessary tool. They provide clear, objective feedback that helps students understand where they need to improve. Also, a good grade can be a powerful motivator for students to study hard and master the material, which is a key part of the learning process.

Student response 2:

I believe grades are more harmful than helpful. The pressure to get a high score often causes a lot of anxiety, which is not good for learning. Instead of exploring a subject with curiosity, students just memorize facts for the test and then quickly forget them afterward.