Possible Title:  Writing Without Grades

I am interesting in finding out more about how grades influence writers.  What would it be like if writers didn’t have to worry about grades?  Would their writing change?  Would their attitudes change?  How would not having to grade affect teachers?  These are the questions that will guide my investigation.

Because the answers to these questions would impact almost any level of teacher, I will write this for English Journal, which is read by both secondary and college-level teachers of English. 

Possible parts of the paper:

I’d like to start by addressing some of the myths about grades:  that grades motivate students, that teachers assign grades through a well-reasoned process, that grades reflect learning and effort levels of students.  Then, I’d like to point out some of the many problems with grades in school settings, particularly as they concern writing.  Finally, I would like to propose alternatives to grading student writing.

Possible sources:

Adkison, Stephen and Stephen Tchudi.  "Grading on Merit and Achievement:  Where Quality Meets Quantity." Alternatives to Grading Student Writing.  Ed. Stephen Tchudi.  Urbana, IL:  NCTE, 1997.  192-208.

Bauman, Marcy.  "What Grades Do for Us, and How to Do without Them." Alternatives to Grading Student Writing.  Ed. Stephen Tchudi.  Urbana, IL:  NCTE, 1997.  162-178.

Kohn,  Alfie.  Punished by Rewards:   The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes.  Bridgewater, NJ: Replica Books, 1993.