Reader Response Number Two

“Grade Inflation: It’s Time to Face the Facts”

    In my opinion, I think that it is better to earn something than to receive it. In Harvey Mansfield’s essay, “Grade Inflation: It’s Time to Face the Facts,” I found that Mansfield was saying the same thing. Mansfield’s essay portrays his views on grade inflation at Harvard University and how higher grades are expected to be given to students, and not actually earned. He also states how he gives students two grades, their inflated grades, and the grades that, “will give students a realistic, useful assessment of how well they did and where they stand in relation to others”(59). I feel that Mansfield gives a very strong argument about his view against grade inflation, and how it has taken over Harvard University.
    One thing that I find stands out in Mansfield’s argument is the counter argument. A counter argument shows that the author has acknowledged how others feel on the subject and can back up what they believe. Mansfield brings up a counter argument from when he was interviewed by The Boston Globe and how he believes that grade inflation began. He then rebuttals the counter argument that he made, which I find strengthens his argument as a whole.
    At first, I found it to be strange that Mansfield states, “I have no access to the figures,” because I thought that made him sound less credible (61). Once I read further though about why he did not have figures, I felt that earlier stating that he did not have the figures makes him actually sound credible because of his honesty.
    Mansfield’s essay was very well written, and was very easy to follow. I particularly liked the tone that he used because it made him sound relatable. His essay took on a more relaxed feel to it as well because he was writing as if it were a conversation, and not as if he were a professor and more superior than the reader.
    Overall, I feel that Mansfield had a very strong argument against grade inflation, and had a very strong essay as well. His ability to rebuttal a counter argument and have a relatable tone also help to improve his essay. This essay was very easy to follow and was something that I found interesting to read since I am a college student.