English 101
September 6, 2008
Are Grades An Effective Way to Motivate Students?
“Across America, in state after state, a decade of major reforms in education
has so far failed to produce the anticipated improvement in the quality of our schools
or the academic achievements of our students”. (Diane Ravitch) Its seems that issues
surrounding teachers pay, parental and society influence of the schools, text book
costs, new school gear are more important than the discussion about motivating
students and the impact of grades that reflects on our students. What about raising
standards to ensure students succeed and increase there level of effort. After all our
students are the future and grades are very influential in the way our students will
prepare for the world. Late in 1990, the Office of Educational Research and
Improvement held a national conference on student motivation. The touchstone of the
conference was imperative that all of America's students must rise to the challenge of
higher standards of achievement if the nation is to continue to thrive. One problem
that cannot be overemphasized is that a student’s effort and engagement is activated
by learning, and with learning we have grades which will only benefit to the
achievement students.
I have always believed that good grades have an effective way to motivate a
student. With good grades students are enthusiastic about learning. They are
inspired. Grades challenge and stimulate them to have better academic performance.
An interest in the course and wanting to stay in the class will result in hardworking
and ambitious students. Self-confidence and persistence from positive feedback and
an open atmosphere can increase grades. In a survey students were asked to analyze
their classes in the effect of grades and motivation. Each student compiled a list and
reached a consensus on characteristics. The same eight