Summary---Grade Inflation Gone Wild

In the article Grade Inflation Gone Wild published by the Christian Science Monitor in March 24, 2009, the

author, Stuart Rojstaczer, analyzes grading condition in the U.S.

The author defines the wild increase of the average GPA in America as grade inflation. This phenomenon has

lasted for a long time and spread over a large area. As the grade inflation is closely related to both teachers and

students, it has made great influence on the quality of teaching and learning. Thus, the author suggests that people

should pay more attention to this problem.

For more than 30 years, grades have gradually gone up according to the data from gradeinflation.com, a website

created by the author. Many people from different types of schools were experiencing grade inflation in the past

few years though the grades may vary from school to school. More and more higher grades continuously appeared

these years and A is even average in some schools. Meanwhile, the quality of American higher education is

widely questioned because of a lasting increase of grades.

The author also mentions the negative influence on college students brought by grade inflation. Students tend

to put less effort due to less motivation caused by higher grades given by professors. They drink to kill time

instead of studying because they can still get high grades anyway. These all directly contribute to poor quality of

education, which means that students cannot receive knowledge as much as the money they spend. Also, the

author comments that the grades which students receive cannot reflect the effort they make on studying.

Actually, there are some ways to solve the grade inflation according to the authors research. Experience and

skills have been summarized from schools like Princeton, Wellesley and Reed which have made successful

progress on keeping grade inflation. One is to accept the existence of the problem and then strict rules must be

made and carried out to restore excellence. Surely the task is hard but the author emphasizes that it is necessary

and worthwhile. The author strongly encourages colleges and universities to take action because it can determine

the future development of the countrys education.

In conclusion, grade inflation is a big problem which has existed for a long time. As its impact is wide and

serious, it is necessary for all educators to confront this challenge and make efforts to fix it.
Target Grammar Application Sheet (TGAS)
Filling out this sheet will help make visible your application of the target grammar for this assignment. For
each item, write three examples from your paper that show how you applied the target grammar. Include this
sheet with your final draft.

Assignment name: Summary

Target Grammar/Skills: Paraphrasing, collocations, signal phrases/reporting language

Examples Explanation/ details

paraphrasing
For more than 30 years, grades has gradually gone Here I summarize the specific changes
up according to the data from gradeinflation.com, a happened in specific years. Also I get rid of
website created by the author. Everyone Almost numbers of GPAs. Instead, I just show the
everyone in schools was experiencing the grade result of the comparison.
inflation in the past few years though the grades may
vary from different types of schools.

The author also mentions the negative influence on I change the order of the content. In the
college students brought by grade inflation. Students original article, the author put examples first
tend to put less effort due to less motivation caused and then conclusion. But here, I first
by higher grades given by professors. They drink to mention the conclusion and then show
kill time instead of studying because they can still get examples to explain the conclusion.
high grades anyway. These all directly contribute to
poor quality of education, which means that students
cannot receive knowledge as much as the money
they spend. Also, the author comments that the
grades which students receive cannot reflect the
effort they make on studying.

In conclusion, grade inflation is a big problem which In my summary, I make a conclusion to

has existed for a long time. As its impact is wide and emphasize the authors main idea. And I
serious, it is necessary for all educators to confront especially show that the author wants more
this challenge and make efforts to fix it. people to focus on the problem and make
effort.

collocations
Students tend to put less effort due to less motivation Effort is an uncountable noun when it
caused by higher grades given by professors. means the physical or mental energy that you
need to do something. And we often use the
phrase put effort into sth.
These all directly contribute to poor quality of contribute is an intransitive verb when it
education, which means that students cannot receive means to be one of the causes of
knowledge as much as the money they spend. something. We often use the phrase
contribute (to something).

Many people from different types of schools were vary is an intransitive verb when it means
experiencing grade inflation in the past few years to change or be different according to the
though the grades may vary from school to school. situation. We often use the phrase vary
 from something to something.

signal phrases/ reporting language

Thus, the author suggests that people should pay Here I use the signal phrase suggest (that).
more attention to this problem. Suggest means to put an idea into
somebodys mind and to make somebody
think that something is true here.
The author also mentions the negative influence on I use the signal phrase mention that here.
college students brought by grade inflation. It means that to write or speak about
something/somebody.

For more than 30 years, grades have gradually gone I use the signal phrase according to here. It
up according to the data from gradeinflation.com, a means as stated or reported by
website created by the author. somebody/something. Here, I want to show
that the phenomenon, grades have gradually
gone up, comes from the data from a website.

Student Error Log

Name: Siyue Liu

Assignment 1:

Sentences with Errors Description of Error/ Explanation and Remarks Correction

example: after the thief
robbed, he ran himself away
quickly
Correction Symbol
transitive vs. intransitive
verbs
'to rob' takes an object After the thief robbed the
woman,
'to run' in intransitive- no
object he ran away quickly.

In the article Grade Inflation Article before the name of whether we add the or not In the article Grade Inflation
Gone Wild published by newspapers before the name of Gone Wild published by the
Christian Science Monitor in newspapers Christian Science Monitor in
March 24, 2009, the author, actually it depends on the March 24, 2009, the author,
Stuart Rojstaczer, analyzes publisher. But usually, we Stuart Rojstaczer, analyzes
grading condition in the U.S. add the before newspapers grading condition in the U.S.
names.

This phenomenon lasts for a
long time and spreads over a
large area.
Present tense vs. present
perfect tense
According to the context, we This phenomenon has lasted
are talking about the history for a long time and spread
of grade inflation here. It is over a large area.
an action or situation that
started in the past and
continues in the present. So
we should use past perfect
tense instead of present tense.
Students tend to make less
efforts due to less motivation Singular and plural form of a
caused by higher grades
given by professors.
It is surprisingly to see that
A is even average in some
schools.
Wrong collocation Effort is an uncountable noun Students tend to put less
when it means the physical or effort due to less motivation
noun mental energy that you need caused by higher grades
to do something. So we given by professors.
should use effort instead of
efforts here. The usual verb
to use with effort is put,
and we often use that put
effort in to. But when
effort means an attempt
to do something especially
when it is difficult to do,
then it is a countable noun.
And we can use the phrase
make an effort
Word form surprisingly should qualify It is surprising to see that A
Adjective and adverb verbs because it is an adverb. is even average in some
If we want to describe the schools.
phenomenon here is out of
expectation, we should use
the adjective.

In a conclusion, grade Article Though conclusion is a In conclusion, grade inflation

Set phrase countable noun, we use in
inflation is a big problem is a big problem which has
conclusion which means
which has existed for a long finally as a set phrase. existed for a long time.
time.

The author strongly
encourages colleges and
universities to take actions
because it can determine the
future development of the
countrys education.
Singular vs. plural Action is and uncountable
noun when it means that the
process of doing something
in order to make something
happen or to deal with a
situation. And we often use
the phrase take action .
The author strongly
encourages colleges and
universities to take action
because it can determine the
future development of the
countrys education.