Re: The Personal

[Dorothy H Ross <dross@UDel.Edu>]

The biggest problems I have with personal essays--which often generate
fine
writing samples--are the grades.  When a student is
writing about her
sister's suicide or parents' divorce or whatever, the student often sees
the grade as an evaluation of her experience rather than an evaluation of
the essay.  In addition, I have trouble saying to a student, "I gave you a
C because you didn't supply enough support for your feelings of fury when
your brother was attacked."