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From: mchin@homxc.UUCP (M.CHIN)
Newsgroups: comp.edu,rec.humor.d
Subject: Re: Grading on a curve (was Re: cruelty to undergrads)
Message-ID: <1565@homxc.UUCP>
Date: 17 Mar 88 15:31:39 GMT
References: <18618@topaz.rutgers.edu> <503@nunki.usc.edu>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 20
Summary: That damn curve again



Personally, I always used the following definition of a curve.

	1)	Grade all the tests.
	2) 	Find the mean.
	3)	Find the standard deviation.
	4)	For your standard 'C' centered course, a C is the mean
		B is one standard deviation up.
		A is everything above two standard deviations.
		D is one stand deviation down.
		F is everything below two standard deviations.

Although this didn't always hold true, it gave me a rough estimate of what
my grade was going to be.  I liked this definition because it allowed me to
figure out the curve for non-C centered courses.  A B/C centered courses
placed the mean at the B/C level.  Everything above within one standard
deviation was a B.  Made A centered courses real nice.

Michael Chin
ihnp4!homxc!mchin