[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape's (un)fair grading

[Pen Robinson]

No: HPFGUIDX 74601


On Friday, Aug 1, 2003, at 08:17 Europe/London, M.Clifford wrote:

> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, SnapesSlytherin at a... wrote:
>> In a message dated 7/31/03 9:17:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>> bibphile at y... writes:
>>> I was under the impression (though I admit that I don't know why)
>>> that only O.W.L.s counted fifth year.  Basically if you pass the
>>> test you pass even if you have straight zeros and if you fail the
>>> test you fail even if you have straight 100's.
>>
<snip>

> Valky:
> Just can't pick a decent Snape fight with anyone these days can we!
>
> _Gesture of exasperation_ :b
>
> Alright we'll pick nits together.
> My short answer; ***Ridiculous!***
> Of course his class marks count for something!

*If* the OWLs are based on old-fashioned O-Level exams (and they do 
appear to be), then bibphile is correct: marks awarded in class during 
the year are irrelevant to the grades achieved in the OWL examination.  
[The current UK equivalent to O-Levels, the GCSEs, *do* have a 
considerable element of course-work included in the final grades.  But 
O-Level grades were awarded solely on examination performance.  And it 
does appear to me that the OWLs are done in the same way, entirely by 
external examiners.]

If Harry had a school report to carry home to the Dursleys every 
summer, the marks achieved during the year would be on it, probably 
accompanied by acid remarks from Snape about the abysmal Potions OWL 
grade to be expected from this student.  However, Hogwarts does not 
seem to provide reports to parents.  So the marks awarded week by week 
are for the teacher's own information.
>
> Longer answer; A response like this it appears to me,actually begs
> the question.
> Does **Snape** know that only the OWLs count on Harry's marks.

Of course he does.
>
> Why? oh why??? Would he bother awarding a zero or even setting the
> test if it has no effect on the kids marks.
> Sheeesh!!!

Huh?

How about, personal satisfaction for Snape, who wanted to upset Harry?  
How about, he could pretty well tell from the appearance of the potion 
that it would get a good mark, and he couldn't bring himself to award 
one (reasons might vary from spite to a deep-cover disguise).    In 
this respect his action is ambiguous - I mean, Snape-loathers can 
assume that he is a mean-spirited git, while at the same time 
Snape-lovers can assume that he knows perfectly well Harry has achieved 
competence, but for reasons of policy must maintain the anti-Harry 
front by giving him a zero, secure in the knowledge that it makes no 
difference to the important OWL results.

As to why he would bother setting a test if it had no effect on the OWL 
grades, well, teachers do need some means of assessing their students' 
progress, don't they?  This seems to be Snape's method: get the kids to 
make a potion and see how well they've done it.  Seems entirely 
reasonable to me.  Not that I learned Potions, but when I was studying 
for my O-Levels, teachers did tend to set us work, and mark it...

Pen