I hate participation grades. I don't do well in group work and I don't have very many questions most the time, it's stupid my grade is lower just because I don't talk very much.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

We don't have participation grades here.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Lucky. I'm not sure if it's a regional thing or an individual class thing or a mix of regional and individual class, but I think it's a mix cuz not all my teachers give participation grades.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Hmm I just wish they did. Not very difficult to get, just answering a quesiton instead of saying "I don't know" or going up to the board or something.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Our participation grades go off more than just answering questions when asked them. You have to ask questions, review with the teacher after class, be involved in group discussions, etc. I don't have very many questions and I'd be wasting time if I asked questions I already knew the answer to just to boost my participation grade and I don't have any need to talk to the teacher after the class/I have other shit to do and I just plain don't like talking to people. It's just kind of annoying how the class is catered to extroverted people and introverted people and people with anxiety about talking to/in front of people have to chose between a lower grade or draining their energy by forcing interaction/feeling anxious.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Do you think it would be justified if they said it was to get people to speak up more? Now i'm just being devils advocate though.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

No, I don't. Firstly because I don't think it would work, but secondly because there's nothing wrong with being quiet. I've always loved teachers that noted things like "works in their own quiet way" and hated teachers that pushed extroverted qualities onto introverts, I think it's unfair when the learning environment is skewed toward one type of person and expects the students to conform to that.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

That's a good point, being intro is needed in many parts of society, and it shouldn't be forced away.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I think for certain classes I can see why a teacher would give participation points. For example, my French teacher gives speaking points: we have to answer questions at least twice during a class. So does my English teacher, because that class is basically all discussion based lectures. But in most other classes I would say no. Doing well on math and chemistry tests is usually more practical than being able to explain something out loud. Most of my other courses are notes/test based anyway.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

That's a good point, some classes like math, I don't need to participate because I truly understand it. But in classes like my AP government class I feel like kids should participate, because our teacher asks us like 20 questions a day, and I seem to be the only one that will speak up. And I only have a B in that class, most kids know the answers while I don't, but just won't speak up, and it irritates me.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Oh that's understandable. I know how it's like feeling that you're the only one that's participating. The same thing happened during sectionals for orchestra rehearsal. I seemed to be the only person answering the guest conductor's questions. How's AP government by the way? I might take it next year.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Lots of notes, and our tests are hard. Like I answer most of her questions right, but the quizzes are designed to trick you. But It's worth taking.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

We already do.

by Anonymous 10 years ago