Educational psychologist Dr. Sarah Martinez argues that elementary schools should eliminate traditional letter grades and replace them with detailed n...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Educational psychologist Dr. Sarah Martinez argues that elementary schools should eliminate traditional letter grades and replace them with detailed narrative feedback. Martinez claims that while narrative evaluations require more teacher preparation time, this approach would enhance student learning motivation and academic achievement because students would focus on understanding rather than grade competition.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support Dr. Martinez's argument?
After switching to narrative feedback, teachers at Jefferson Elementary reported that students showed increased engagement in classroom discussions and submitted higher-quality assignments on average.
A survey of schools using narrative feedback found that 68% of parents preferred detailed written comments over letter grades for understanding their child's progress.
Research comparing elementary schools shows that students receiving traditional grades spend more time per assignment than students receiving narrative feedback.
In a district that adopted narrative feedback, standardized test scores remained essentially unchanged in the first year after implementation.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Educational psychologist Dr. Sarah Martinez argues that elementary schools should eliminate traditional letter grades and replace them with detailed narrative feedback." |
|
| "Martinez claims that while narrative evaluations require more teacher preparation time, this approach would enhance student learning motivation and academic achievement because students would focus on understanding rather than grade competition." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[MARTINEZ'S POSITION]
Eliminate letter grades → Replace with narrative feedback
↓
[SUPPORTING REASONING]
├── Acknowledges cost: More teacher prep time
└── Claims benefits: Enhanced motivation + achievement
└── Mechanism: Focus shifts from competition to understanding
Main Point: Dr. Martinez argues elementary schools should replace letter grades with narrative feedback because this would improve student motivation and achievement by shifting focus from grade competition to actual learning.
Argument Flow: Martinez presents her educational reform proposal, acknowledges a practical drawback (increased teacher workload), but argues the benefits outweigh the costs because the change would fundamentally improve how students approach learning.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Martinez's core argument has two key components: (1) narrative feedback would enhance student learning motivation, and (2) it would improve academic achievement
- Her reasoning is that students would focus on understanding rather than grade competition
- The right answer should provide concrete evidence that when narrative feedback is implemented, we actually see these predicted improvements - either increased student motivation/engagement, better academic performance, or both
- It should demonstrate the causal mechanism Martinez proposes actually works in practice
- The right answer should show real evidence that switching to narrative feedback produces the enhanced motivation and achievement Martinez promises
After switching to narrative feedback, teachers at Jefferson Elementary reported that students showed increased engagement in classroom discussions and submitted higher-quality assignments on average.
- Shows exactly what Martinez predicted: increased student engagement (motivation) and higher-quality assignments (achievement)
- Provides direct evidence from an actual implementation of her proposed change
- Demonstrates both key benefits Martinez claimed would result from narrative feedback
A survey of schools using narrative feedback found that 68% of parents preferred detailed written comments over letter grades for understanding their child's progress.
- This is about parent preferences, not student outcomes
- Doesn't address whether narrative feedback actually improves motivation or achievement
- Parent satisfaction doesn't prove Martinez's claims about student learning benefits
Research comparing elementary schools shows that students receiving traditional grades spend more time per assignment than students receiving narrative feedback.
- Actually suggests traditional grades might be better since students spend more time on assignments
- Works against Martinez's argument rather than supporting it
- What trap this represents: Students might think "more time = better" but this choice suggests traditional grades encourage more student effort
In a district that adopted narrative feedback, standardized test scores remained essentially unchanged in the first year after implementation.
- Shows no improvement in academic achievement, which fails to support Martinez's claims
- "Unchanged" test scores don't demonstrate the enhanced achievement she promised
- What trap this represents: Students might think "no decrease = good news" but Martinez claimed there would be improvement, not just stability