Jason McIntosh
Volume 5
Chapter Description
Grades are an important part of school. Among other things, they tell students how well they met assignment outcomes, whether they are on track to pass their courses and graduate, and if they qualify for certain scholarships and extracurricular activities. However, grades are also the cause of a great deal of stress and anxiety, especially when the stakes are high. This essay examines low-stakes writing, a broad category of assignments and activities that are designed to shift students’ focus away from grades and towards their writing and learning. The goal of this essay is to encourage discussion between teachers and students about the role of grades in the context of low and high-stakes writing assignments. It does so by discussing the differences between low-stake and high-stakes writing, why low-stakes writing is minimally graded or not graded at all, and how low-stakes and high-stakes writing relate to assessment and evaluation. The essay concludes with four recommendations for how students can change their mindset toward low-stakes writing.
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