>True, but back to the original example, the bright student given a "C" for
>writing down the wrong units:  If that prof took MORE points than that
>question is normally worth for that, then no, that's not right.  However, if
>that question was one of four on an exam, and thus worth 25 points, and
>the prof took all 25 points for putting the wrong units down, that's
>perfectly reasonable.
>
>Look, if the proper answer is 25 kWh and I write 25 kW, I'm wrong, as
>surely as if I'd written 25 mph or yellow or Marie Antoinette.  In fact,
>I'd argue that it's more important that the proper UNITS pop out at the
>end than that the proper number does.  Proper units shows diligence
>and understanding of base concepts.  Proper maths shows good
>calculator skills.

The solution is what one of my physics profs did. You showed all your 
work in solving the problems on the exam, all of the steps. If you 
made a stupid blunder part way through, you lost partial points. He 
was more concerned in making sure that you understood the principles 
involved, than whether you made some trivial math error. Yes, I agree 
that in the real world (as in the case of the Mars Observer), you 
don't get partial credit, it's all or nothing. But school should 
rarely be confused with the real world. ;-)

-- 

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Chris Smolinski
Black Cat Systems
http://www.blackcatsystems.com
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