Please review my TOEFL essay - one week is left !!
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30 Nov 2012, 12:44
In some classes, course grades are based solely on exams, while in other classes grades are based more on class participation than on exams. Which type of grading do you prefer?
It has recently become a reason of numerous debates whether or not it is better to have course grades based on exam results. Personally, I would prefer to recieve my course grades participating in class lectures and discussions. In my view, it would be more advantageous for 2 plausible reasons - it would not only help students to memorize the material better and use it practically in discussions but also will save time and allow students to work in order to cover some of their expenses.
One of the important reasons that a class participation for receiving a course grade is better option is that it helps students to memorize and learn the material given by professors much better. In classes students usually discuss and debate on numerous topics regarding the material they learn, sometimes even role plays are made by enthusiastic students. In my opinion, these are the best techniques to help students know the material they study almost by heart. Even more, by the end of every lecture students with a professor usually draw a logical conclusion which definitely helps every student to get the things clear in their minds and put everything in the logical order. When a really hard work is done in classrooms, to my mind, it is very reasonable to grade students regarding how much they participated in the discussions and how right were their answers. For instance, in 2009 I studied in Business management school in Tallinn. I was really fond of my Economics course and I participated in the lecture every single minute when I was allowed to. I was quite pleased to see that the professor noticed my efforts and I received "A" grade even not taking any single exam.
Last but not least justification is that the participation in class lectures to get a grade helps students to save their priceless time. Students have to attend classes anyway and if they participate in discussions they do two things at the same time - they learn the material and earn their course grade. So, it is especially beneficial, because many of students work and if they earn their course grades not by taking exams, but in their classes, then they have more free time and an excellent opportunity to earn even more money to cover their expenses. Thus they do not even need to sit long hours preparing for the exam. For example, my friend Markus, who studied International Relations in Tartu in 2011, experienced the same method of gaining the course grade. He was from an average, not so affluent family, and he had to work in order to be able to pay for his studies. So his work was a vital part of his student life. He made a right choice working hard on his lectures and he was allowed not to pass 4 exams he had to pass by the professor.
In conclusion, from all the above-mentioned it seems absolutely obvious, that the method of earning a course grade participating in the lectures is very beneficial and if I had to choose I would definitely choose this method. This method not only helps to save students' time but also helps them to study the material more deeply and thoroughly.
Thank you so much