SYNTHESIS ESSAY ASSIGNMENT

SYNTHESIS ESSAY ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS

Overview: During the last few weeks we have read and analyzed various articles in regard to the issue of alleged grade inflation on college campuses. Through these readings, we see that this topic has become part of a national conversation as experts weigh in on all sides. Note that the authors of the four essays we read often refer to the same examples, studies, and sometimes each other, even though they take a different stance on the topic. Stuart Rojstaczer in “Grade Inflation Gone Wild,” first establishes that grade inflation is leading to “minimal student effort” and then proposes that new policies be introduced to handle the problem.  David Gooblar in “Let’s All Stop Worrying…” admits that grade inflation exists, but that it is no cause for alarm, since grades are meaningless anyway.  He suggests alternative assessment methods. Oliver Bateman in “Confessions of a Grade-inflating Professor” asserts that grade inflation is acceptable since high tuition costs demand that students achieve at high levels.  Finally, Mark Oppenheimer in “There’s Nothing Wrong with Grade Inflation” takes the view that grades are not motivators and suggests that grading be omitted altogether for more “open, democratic relationships” with students. Now it is time for you to enter this conversation by developing and defending your own stance on this issue.

General Directions: Write a three to four page argumentative essay in which you address the topic of grade inflation.“ Create a thesis statement and support that thesis by your own interpretation as well as by integrating (synthesizing) information from articles we have read over the past two weeks on this topic. You may integrate ideas from these essays that support your view, or you may refute ideas from any of the essays with which you do not agree. (See the overview above for the essay titles and authors.   NOTE: USE ONLY THE READINGS WE HAVE READ IN CLASS AS YOUR SOURCES. DO NOT DO OUTSIDE RESEARCH FOR THIS ESSAY.  The purpose of this essay is to practice synthesizing information from a few sources, not to conduct research. That comes later.

The following is a suggested plan on how to proceed.

1. Create a thesis statement. Keep the following in mind as you narrow your focus and compose your thesis.
2.    A. The thesis statement is not a question or a fact, but a statement of your claim or stance toward the subject.
3.   B.  The thesis statement is a complete sentence (it may even go beyond a single sentence.)
4.   C.   This essay is argumentative in nature, so your thesis statement should reflect that.  It’s wise to consider questions to arrive at your stance on this topic. In fact your thesis may be the answer to one of these questions. For example:
5. Does grade inflation actually exist?
6. If it does exist, is it a problem?
7. Is grade inflation beneficial to students in the long run?
8. Is grade inflation beneficial to universities?
9. Are there alternative methods of assessment to the letter grade?
10. If grade inflation is a problem, how should it be addressed?

***You might also create questions of your own on this topic.

2. Develop an organizational plan that includes the following:
3. Introduction/thesis statement
4. Overview of issue and/or claim
5.  Support and sources:  Provide reasons for your view.  Incorporate quotes and/or paraphrase passages from the articles to support your assertions, or you may refute some claims made by author’s comments with which you do not agree.
6. Conclusion