ICC English - "A Proposal to Abolish Grading"

In John Knowles' novel A Separate Peace, the rivalry that characterizes relationships at Devon School also extends into the arena of academics, pitting students against each other in pursuit of exemplary grades and the prestige that accompanies them. Paul Goodman, in his essay "A Proposal to Abolish Grading," seems to suggest that, at least in school, competition is unnecessary and counterproductive, arguing that higher education was never intended to "pit one young person against another in ugly competition."

Your assignment is to write an essay commenting on Goodman's premise. Although Goodman's argument focuses on college, I would like you to consider the idea of abolishing grades in High School. To begin, you need to consider (at least in theory) why you think schools use grades. (What purpose, if any, do they serve?) Once you've examined the idea behind grading, I would like you to argue either that some system of grading needs to be retained or that (like Goodman argues) grading should be "abolished." Whichever side of the argument you choose, you need to use quotes from Goodman's essay either in support of your thesis or as points against which to argue. As always, be sure to follow the MLA format for documenting your work. Ultimately, keep in mind that, as the writers of Elements of Argument point out, effectively articulated arguments will “provoke thought and initiate an intelligent discussion.”