Essay Help Needed

[FinalDestination]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 5:09pm

I originally posted in the Off-Topic board (unaware of what this board was for..never visited before) and was told by someone to ask here:

Alright, so my Communication Arts (Or..English for those who don't call it that..just the way our curriculum is I guess) teacher has recently assigned us a five paragraph persuasive essay.

We all had to choose a topic to do and I chose to do this topic:
"Are grades really a good measurement of someone's intelligence?"

Now, I need some help from everyone on here (I'm not cheating-I asked if I could do this):

What are your opinions on this subject? And why?

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Also, someone on the other thread commented saying "No one here wants to write your paper" just to clarify: I'm not asking anyone to write my paper. I'm just asking for opinions so I can give other opinions and reports on what a majority of a group of people think on the subject. It's to help with one of my arguments (I need three). I have some already brain stormed, I just need other opinions. Thanks in advance.

Updated On: 1/7/08 at 05:09 PM

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 6:27pm

"Are grades really a good evaluation of someone's intelligence?"

On an unweighted scale, I say not necessarily. For instance, somebody in regular classes may maintain a 4.0 unweighted GPA, whereas an AP/IB/Honors student might have an unweighted 3.8. Is the AP student less intelligent because of a B or two? I would say most definitely not. My answer would be altered a slight bit when considering weighted GPAs. In this case, it is much more a matter of who is more intelligent. HOWEVER, there are many exceptions. Some incredibly intelligent students might simply choose not to apply themselves as their fellow students do. They may ace tests but not turn in assignments, thereby receiving lesser grades. In terms of weighted GPAs, sometimes it comes down to the fact that the student with the higher GPA has put in a great deal more effort...not necessarily that they are more intelligent.

To give a straightforward, less convoluted, definitive answer (although I don't think there IS one on this subject), I would tend to say that, no, grades are not really a good evaluation of someone's intelligence. This is where standardized tests arise as good, purposeful entities...good measurements of intelligence and (perhaps more so) of knowledge.

Hah, I could go on for hours about things like this, but I think I would essentially end up saying the same thing over and over again. Good luck with your essay!

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 6:38pm

I would say no as well. My reasoning is that there are a handful of teachers that are just plain lazy. Especially in my school. They give everyone good grades, so they don't actually have to grade papers. That's why you get over 50% of the class (I think it was like 68% in my school) that get into National Honor Society, and things like that. Not because they're necessarily deserving of the grades, but because teachers will just give out good grades to avoid doing THEIR homework.

Fortunately, there are still hard working teachers out there. But nonetheless, I'm sure some of it can be based on that.

[Juliash]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 6:43pm

Absolutely not. I have a friend who is BRILLIANT but he's unfocused and lazy and doesn't get anything done so he doesn't make good grades. I think he has a C in math right now because he's gotten a 100 on every test but he hasn't done any homework.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 11:24am

Grades are an excellent measure of how good one knows how to study. Sometimes all this means is the ability to repeat back in an organized way what has already been told.

Grades rarely measure the ability to truly think outside the box or measure creativity or measure new methodology.

Some bright people get lousy grades because they grasp in a week what takes a semester for most and then they get bored.

[falsetto1708]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 2:57am

Grades, put simply, measure one's ability to get good grades.

It is unreasonable to think that all people with good grades are intelligent people (or at least more intelligent than those with lower gpas).

In my opinion, when earned honestly, grades better evaluate work ethic than smarts. There are many capable people who choose not to get A's due to a lack of work ethic, as mentioned above.

The flaw in many grading systems is that there is SO MUCH room for dishonesty. Grades can simply be a reflection of one's ability to work the system. A girl that will be graduating with e as fellow valedictorian this year (did i even spell valedictorian right? haha) has literally CHEATED her way through high school. Does it mean she is intelligent? No. It just means she is good at getting good grades.

Standardized tests can better evaluate intelligence because, for one, it is near impossible to cheat. Granted, some intelligent people do poorly on standardized tests because they lack basic test taking skills or just freeze up. However, I feel a standardized test measure intelligence at a FAR MORE accurate rate than grades! (For example, my ACT is in the 30s. The girl I mentioned above, a 4.0 student, got a 20... which is LOWER than national average!)

There's my two cents.

=)

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 9:33pm

I would say no. There are several kinds of intelligence and they are not all measured at school.

[AngActing]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 2:01pm

Yes, I agree with everyone else. No. Intelligence comes in all sorts of different forms. Einstein flunked math. That tells you a lot. As someone else stated, grades measure one's ability to study . . .and I will add, comprehend and retain what was studied.

I also feel the same about IQ tests! They don't always find the true genius. You see, if I was given an IQ test on math . . . my intelligence would be average or low. On the other hand, give me an IQ test on comprehension and English (at least when I was in school [it's been years]) and I will be very high on the intelligence "charts".

In fact, that is exactly what happened in school! I was considered "gifted" in English and remedial in math, based on IQ tests.

Also, grades can be influenced by the teacher's standards or the person giving the grade. Some teacher's expect every student to be the same . . . and that is not the case, ever. Some student's learn by seeing, others by doing and schools and/or teacher's do not always take that into consideration.

[zeldatp07]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 1:15am

I usually ask for help on some web services for paper writing but the thing is, the paper content will just give you an idea on what to write about the topic. It does not necessarily mean that you have to submit it as it is. You can still put your own thoughts and idea but at least, with that paper delivered to you, your research time would be reduced (this will be helpful if you are soo loaded with other paper and assignment commitments!).