Paul Terry wrote in message ...
In message , Richard J.
writes

The problem is that students in any subject other than English are not
penalised for poor language skills, so they never have an incentive to
improve those skills.

At A level, marks are allocated for SPG (Spelling, Punctuation and
Grammar) in all papers involving prose answers, whatever the subject.
This has been the case for many years. I don't think the problem is lack
of incentive so much as lack of ability.

Yeah, about three marks. It can make a difference, but it probably
won't.

I don't know what universities do these days, since it is some years
since I last taught at that level.

Bugger all. The people who would have got firsts anyway will still get
firsts regardless (and anyway, they're the ones who usually know how
to write English prose), and everyone else gets a 2:1 in the
prizes-for-all league table culture, unless they're a bit thick, when
they get a 2:2, or do no work at all when they get a third. No-one's
allowed to fail because it might infringe their human rights; and
besides, it would make the University look bad.

The whole undergraduate business is now orientated towards statistics
(which by popular acclaim are an advanced form of lying). It's
marginally less fair and a hell of a lot more admin than having dons
decide behind closed doors whether someone's a first class chap or
not.

Quite frankly, it would be a lot easier taking £3,000 off the
undergraduates, giving them their degree certificates on the spot and
telling them to have fun for the next three years.

/rant