Grading the Grades of Gradation

I am in the midst of grading.  From the standpoint of absolutes, it should be pretty straight forward to grade, for in THEORY answers to questions in science are "right" or "wrong".  Yet, the reality is that science, and education, and hell, COMMUNICATION can be and is (are) all rather relative.  The is/are choice in the prior sentence is a case in point.  Most would say that the correct choice is "is" as the sentence at its core focusing on reality..... which arguably most folks think of as singular.  However, for some there is a thought that the singular "reality" is actually representing multiple facets depending upon perspective (Think of "Allegory of the Cave" for a Platonian perspective on that.) and should be thought of as plural (hence "are").  And still others, some in our English Department, feel a need to purposefully break some rules of grammar constructs and suggest that from a "flow" perspective that the foci of the sentence is "science, education, communication" which is (are.... HA!) plural and deserves "are".  

So, a long-winded way to get to my point..... grading, no matter how "concrete" is actually subjective.  Could my exam questions have used words/terms outside of a typical vocabulary?  You are damn right that they likely have.  I often have had students come up to me in an exam and ask me what "this or that" word means.... and it is not the science term or concept they are being asked about.  It happens so often that I sometimes wonder.  A limited few of the MANY examples of words I can recall students not understanding include:

obliterate, instill, cornucopia, plethora, lavage, bathes (used in regards to "saliva bathes the teeth with enzymes".... I had a student argue with me about that word for 20 minutes one time)

Let me try to steer myself back to my point..... even though many think grading should be absolute, it is really something that needs nuanced gradations to do well.  "Gradation" as a word means:

• a scale or a series of successive changes, stages, or degrees.

• a stage or change in a series of successive degrees.

  "minute gradations of distance"

• a minute change from one shade, tone, or color to another.

  "amorphous shapes in subtle gradations of green and blue" 

So, I do typically give some sort of very modest curve to my courses, and I give a lot of thought to how that curve may pan across the array of students.  

So, in the beautiful, albeit distant past, I used to (somewhat) facetiously tell students that I was going to let their grades "marinate" for a while while I enjoyed a drink or two with my father-in-law as we indulged in  our pipes and conversed on Friday afternoon.  I then said this "marination" process would help me to discern if any sort of "curve" may be warranted for their course.  Some students would grin, others would seem perplexed.  

So, I am battling to get to the step where I can let the grades "marinate" (sadly sans pipe or beer).  I am determined to get there within an hour or so.

* * * * * 

The "Retiree's Cigar Group" was wonderful and pleasant in all regards yesterday!!!  Because of the snow there were fewer fellows than average.... only seven in total.  And, a lot of the talk focused on "snow blowers" and the good and bad attributes each fellow found in his machine.  But, it was just a relaxing, fun, pleasant time.  I picked up the same cigar I had the week prior, a Perdomo Habana.  It was pleasant, but the relaxation and conversation were more so.  I ended up indulging in the cigar until the nub was so short that I was getting nervous about its potential to singe my mustache hairs.  The nub was perhaps an inch and a half  long (perhaps 4 cm) when I tossed it.  The cigar was not a pipe, nor could it ever be as wonderful.  But, it was pleasant, and the camaraderie was great!

I ran my 10 miles (~16km), but did so in the early afternoon today.  I did a later run,because I decided to STAY HOME this morning and to do my grading in my den.  It was nice and very comfortable.  I was wearing sweat pants and a comfortable sweatshirt and baseball cap.  I listened to my wind band instrument channel on Pandora while I worked.  

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