Grading woes

[rivkat]

Background: My exam had two questions, one worth 20% and the other 80%. I just gave someone who did quite well on the first question -- in the top 14 of 82 -- the lowest score by far on the second question. From A- to C (and that's generous) in one fell swoop. I feel like a failure. The student in question obviously knew copyright law, but didn't treat the second question as if it raised copyright questions at all. I gave a standard (for law school) issue-spotter exam, and everyone else so far has managed to spot the copyright issue in the exam for this copyright class. The student's obviously smart; where did I go wrong? I just know s/he's going to see me about the grade, and I don't know what to say other than "everyone else noticed this."

Argh!

More book reviews soon, I promise, after I finish the neverending grading.

Comments

Not your fault

[evenbiggerdog.livejournal.com]

I realize a certain amount of breast-beating can be de rigeur with teachers, but come on! The student screwed up, not you. He or she will just have to pick up the shattered pieces of his or her life and move on.

Re: Not your fault

[rivkat.livejournal.com]

Half of me knows this. The other half wants to be like the good teacher from Groenig's "School Is Hell" who is always having fun and gets to say "You guys are so smart! As for everyone!" The sad thing is, the student could obviously do better than most people in the class if s/he had figured out what to do.