I’m not a big fan of playing the numbers game when it comes to your educations. This game draws attention toward the numerical value of assignments ((We’ve discussed the “how many points do I have to score on the final to get an A” game before.)) and away from the stuff you want to know. This is why you cannot do extra work to raise your grade, but are welcome to re-work anything (read: master the material and make an improvement). This is why your practice essays are not in the grade book. This is why your multiple choice tests are not in the grade book. In turning your backs on the (potentially) high-anxiety grading system in favor of one that promotes self-reflection and improvement, you have made great strides in your writing. ((I realize I’m committing my second least-favorite teacher offense by lumping you all together, but this proud moment wouldn’t be happening if you all hadn’t made some progress.)) By taking risks and viewing all of your work as steps toward mastery, even if you falter occasionally, you have become true students. ((L. studere, “to be eager, diligent”))

However, even with that polemic against the current number-centric grading system…

I couldn’t be more excited about those three title numbers. Why, you ask?

The middle column is based on your previously discussed multiple choice scores. The right column is based on your MC scores from today. Whereas before, the 5 would have been out of your average ((I realize I’m committing my second least-favorite teacher offense by lumping you all together, but this proud moment wouldn’t be happening if you all hadn’t made some progress.)) reach, based on the current evidence of your mastery, I’m confident that you will all pass this test with flying colors.

In the past few weeks we have blown through several exams worth of multiple choice questions, learning new vocabulary, reading/skimming skills, and (ugh) test-taking strategies. And it has paid off.

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More important, though, you have become engaging writers and skeptical readers. You have the skills to continue learning about arguments, to create your own, and to improve upon those of others. This is a great achievement. I hope you will move forward with these skills and learn with an unceasing eagerness.

Good work, guys.

As was announced, the deadline for the Tulsa Youth Council has been moved back to May 1st. If you are interested (and you should be–this is a great opportunity to get involved in local government), download the application from the City Council and let me know.

Quick reminder: no article analyses this weekend. Look over the vocabulary from the multiple choice; we’ll have a quiz on Monday.

Update: In case you’re interested, the quiz will be in two parts, covering the passages and questions 21-43. For the first part, you will be presented with a device pulled from the questions and asked to provide a definition or an example, then explain how it could be used in an argument. The second part will be simple vocabulary: you will be asked to define the word and use it in a sentence.