Snape's (un)fair grading (just got long)

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 74612

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Pen Robinson <pen at p...> wrote:

> *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.]
>

Valky replies:
Terrific! that puts that debate to bed for me!
Right or wrong there is a possibility that the course work is 
involved. Not really a matter I care to debate lengthily, right or 
wrong.

> >
> > 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.

Valky replies:
Very well then if that's all you wish to say on the matter.

> >
> > 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? 

Valky's Reply:
I seee....
Are you saying thats a fair award for Harry's work then?
 
> 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).  

Valky's reply:
Indifferent to this argument, really. Snape dropped the potion in a 
deliberate act of spite. Cover schmover, what difference does one 
exceeding pass make unless.... hmmm perhaps it would be prudent not 
to let the dark side know Harry can make a real potion. (sarcasm 
hint). Blow me over with a feather, Snape wants Harry to defeat the 
Dark Lord! 
 
> 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.

I am not a Snape loather. I call myself a realist. 
Snapes mystery and secrecy could yet reveal he is no more than a 
bitter retrousse who's reasons for being on the side of good are as 
scathing and hate filled in detail as his manner as a teacher.
The speculation that he is a deeply angsted sweet-heart who never 
beleived with his being that the Dark Arts held no beauty is just 
that, speculation. Let it not end, indeed. Snape-lovers have a place 
on this list. Of intrigue in a character Snape is the King. 
However the brand Snape-loather does not apply to everyone who 
refuses to be overwhelmed by the instant compassion that arises from 
theories of Snapes long lost love and other such.

What I am trying to relate is that the boundary you have drawn in 
your above statement demonstrates a disregard for the truth.
Indeed a Snape-lover !also! *could* assume that Snape is just a mean 
spirited git. The canon certainly does hold a veritable mass of 
inference in support of it.
So those of us to whom logic is more important *must* accept there 
will _always_ be a 'Snape-Lover' who simply _refuses_ to see it that 
way. 
And while so many of us do with amassed courtesy, there is an 
undignified cavort of Snape-Lover creed who dispense with courtesy in 
their replies and insult the logic they appear to be unable to 
comprehend.
_Told ya I wanted to pick a fight_ :b

On the other hand a 'Snape-loather' as you put it, if indeed a 
loather of any of JKR's creations could possibly exist in HP fandom, 
!also! *could* assume Snape is merely maintaining his anti-Harry 
front. I am sure if we all did Snape fandom would simply overrun the 
list and anyone who spoke ill of the mysterious man would be promptly 
booted.
Ok OK perhaps not so definately booted, but I have been lynched on 
several occassions by the Snape camp. 
The thing that sticks in my craw is the aggro.
Heal the list Snape-Lovers. If you are so filled deeply with 
compassion for the underdogs and the abused........... 
Why so abusive?

Back to the subject, someone who wanted to handle Snape without the 
kid gloves and rose petals might actually agree with this statement 
and yet still think it is unfair grading. Is that OK? Or does that 
person deserve to have their own character ripped to shreds for it?

> 
> 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

Terrific well you've wrapped that up nicely. Obviously Snape is 
entirely fair in his behaviour because it didn't count toward the 
final mark.
The debate remains. Snape grades fairly. Rubbish! He deliberately 
caused Harry to recieve a failed grade in his class.
Right or wrong that's what happened isn't it.
Valky.