Student Expectations Causing Grade Disputes

In my Rhetorical Theory class, the subject of student expectations in terms of their grades was brought up. My professor gave us an article from the New York Times full of information and theories to consider. Apparently the main issue is regarding students believing they deserve higher grades than what they are receiving.

A professor from the University of Maryland says that he has students who claim their grades do not reflect their effort and hard work. He believes these complaints are revolved around their sense of entitlement. In other words, students feel if they show up to class every day and do what is required of them, then they deserve a good grade. A third of students surveyed at the University of California expect at least B's for attending class regularly and completing required readings and assignments.

Another professor, also the leading author of the study "Self-Entitled College Students" noticed an increase of entitlement in her students and was curious in figuring out why. She suggests that this sense of entitlement could be related to parental pressure, competition with peers, and achievement anxiety.

A professor from the University of Wisconsin offers the theory that entitlement stems from student's K-12 experiences. He supports his theory by pointing out that during this time they become ultra -efficient in test preparation, and this hyper-efficiency has led them to look for ways to get high scores. My first thought on the matter agrees with this theory. Only I think it extends a little more further than this. All schools are different, but anyone who attended the same schools as I did, can vouch for the fact that effort did in fact get you a good grade. If a teacher recognized struggling with course material, your grade reflected how much effort you put in. If they knew you were trying your best, you received a good grade, regardless the quality of work.

The dean at Vanderbilt University claims that students often confuse their level of effort with the quality of their work. He recognizes the student mentality that "if I work hard, I deserve a high grade." As a student, I know this is true. Maybe not with everyone, but I have heard it enough between friends, peers, and just overhearing students complaining. This kind of mentality does not just appear out of nowhere, it stems from a place where it was once reinforced.