BellaOnline Forums Education Distance Learning Teacher Threatens Harsh Grades

I'm in a new six week class on professional writing. Our teacher has warned us in his intro message -

"After 15 years at Northeastern University I can assure you that you will be somewhat shocked at the grade and critique of your first effort in this course. However you will revise the work for the coming week when you will get a better grade. It is this last, and better, grade that counts."

This makes me very nervous - and also fired up. I am taking it as a personal challenge. Is he saying I can't create a brilliant first version that is deserving of a good grade? Or does this mean even if I submit the most brilliant assignment he has ever seen that he'll give me a C just because it gives me "lots of room to improve"?

I'd bet he's basing that on previous classes -- nothing personal, but he's probably found he grades harder at the outset than other professors or teachers his sutdents have had. Remember, most of his students have probably not been writing for years! And, he just wants to prepare everyone & let them know it's a progressive grading system. I think that works for writing as you know, writers say "writing is editing."

Very interested in following your notes on this course!

Yes, Lisa, keep us posted. I agree with what Deb said. He's just letting people know what he is like and his expectations.

You would be amazed at how many students think that their first effort is always their best effort, and that the paper doesn't need any revisions. I'm talking about students who have not revised anything. They just put down whatever comes to them, sort of in a Faulkner style (but without his panache), and they merrily turn it in expecting a "WOOHOO!"

He'll be surprised to get a student who has already done a great deal of rewriting before the paper is turned in.

The paper was submitted on Sunday. The class got a message today saying in essence "some of you haven't submitted yet - submit soon." So apparently not only are some people not writing properly, but some people aren't submitting at all period. That would never occur to me