Harsha/Paper for an East-West Religion College Course

[Guest guest]

Harsha -

thank you - a clear and well-written paper. Who was the author?

Based on what you said here, giving that paper an A- seems reflective of

assumptions the professor made based on pre-existing categories.

These kinds of assumptions seem to be what the paper is questioning,

so there is a bit of irony to that situation. I would give it an

A+, although according to what the paper itself suggests, the whole idea

of viewing the paper as a means to obtain an end is an invalidation of

its statement - so perhaps it would be best if I didn't grade it -- Shalom

--

[Guest guest]

 

Dan Berkow, PhD <berkowd

< >

Friday, October 29, 1999 11:52 AM

Re: Harsha/Paper for an East-West Religion College

Course

 

>"Dan Berkow, PhD" <berkowd

>

>Harsha -

>thank you - a clear and well-written paper. Who was the author?

>Based on what you said here, giving that paper an A- seems reflective of

>assumptions the professor made based on pre-existing categories.

>These kinds of assumptions seem to be what the paper is questioning,

>so there is a bit of irony to that situation. I would give it an

>A+, although according to what the paper itself suggests, the whole idea

>of viewing the paper as a means to obtain an end is an invalidation of

>its statement - so perhaps it would be best if I didn't grade it -- Shalom

>--

 

 

Dear Dan and Harsha,

 

A- or A+... let me tell you, I spent my Jr year in England - a university

system where no grades are given because only the final examination

counts...try re-testing some of your students 3 yrs from now and see what

they have retained?

Since we were only going to either pass or fail and no grades to affect any

grade averages...the effort depended entirely upon "other factors", such as

wanting to actually understand Existentialism enough to write a paper worthy

of discussion with my highly esteemed and admired philosophy professor in a

2 students with her tutorial..one never knew what penetrating questions she

might come up with next. She also inspired me to read many of the classics

of Christian mysticism merely by her indefinable presence. I remember some

of her precise words and comments to this day, she had such an impact on me.

We also "lived" Shakespeare that year, speaking to one another in our

favorite quotations from the various plays. We read British novelists who

then came to meet us for a question session in person. I have retained over

the rest of my life far more from that one year than the other three put

together. I quite honestly feel as a result that you have a much more

difficult challenge to inspire a love for learning WITH a grade sysytem.

Somehow I am certain you both must be quite good at challenging your

students to really think deeply no matter what.

 

With love,

Glo