is it acceptable for professors to base part of students' grades on attendant & class participation,?

Question

is it acceptable for professors to base part of students' grades on attendance and class participation, or should grades be based entirely on students' performance on exams and papers?

Answer 1

That's the way it is, the final grade is composed of attendance, class participation and exams. Of course it is more important the exam, the other two variables are used to help you improve your exam's grade. If you do not attend classes, that means you are not interested. The classroom experience is valuable to explore the many aspects of the subject of study, and there you show your interest and how good you understand it.

Answer 2

It is very acceptable and in fact is standard for most classes. What happens in the classroom isn't supposed to be a mere inconvenience; it is part of the learning process. A student who is not part of the discussion, or who never hears the whole lecture and relies completely on notes, does not learn anywhere near as well, even if they can get by on papers and exams.

Because it is harder to be completely objective about participation, though (I can count how often you speak, but I can't objectively grade the quality of each comment without disrupting the class), the percentage of the grade which is based on participation should be kept within reasonable limits. I usually keep it at 10-15%, but I've had to stop instructors from basing half the course grade on participation!

Answer 3

I don't think it's right, but I'll state the reason later.

First I will say that none of my classes (I am a chemistry major) have EVER had a participation component. Secondly, I will say that I have only missed four classes in four years. Two of those were because of a commencement I had to go to, but didn't want to in first year and the last two classes were due to co-op interviews in which you MUST miss class if they are scheduled at that time.

University is about mastery of material. Yes people should try and attend lectures; however, marks should not be awarded because someone attended lectures or participated. Classes should be designed in such a way that even if notes were available online or in CD form (as I have had) that would not ensure success.

Therefore, I will go against the majority here and say that engagement should result in good test scores and papers. I'm sorry, but I don't want whomever is designing that bridge that I cross everyday to have received their degree "because they tried".

Answer 4

Of course they can base part of the grade on attendance and participation because these are big cues as to your interest and engagement with the material. Learning from cribbed notes is all well and good, but if that was all that was needed to learn, there would be no Universities and no teachers.

Answer 5

I worked in a university before. Well, u can put lets say 10% part on att. and class participation and 20% on papers and 30% mid-term and 40% final exam.It is a suggestion and i think its ok if u took into consideration the att. and participation as u r telling them that u appreciate everything ur students do for ur matreial.

Answer 6

Attendance and class participation are essential to academic mastery and should be given more gravity than exams and papers. People that have difficulty with writing skills shouldn't be punished in other areas of academia.

Answer 7

Yes, and it has turned some Bs that I would have received into As. Showing up to class and asking questions or discussing the material shows how committed a student is to the class.

Answer 8

i've got self belief it is substantial for an element of the grade to be to do with habit and attendance yet not the main obligatory element. you ought to do a minimum of seventy 5% of the grading on their overall performance. good success Marking!

Answer 9

Dude, go to class. Really.