The Incompatible Functions of Grading

I think there's an underlying problem about what we're asking grading to do and the way in which this practice plays different and I think somewhat incompatible functions. So one thing we're doing with grading is telling the student how good their work is. But then the other function that grading plays, you know, especially with our undergraduates is that it opens and closes doors for them after their time with us. And so it's the feeling of on the one hand trying to tell the student whether they've written a decent philosophy paper. And on the other hand, feeling like I'm communicating,. say with a medical school about whether to let this person into medical school. The paper is a B minus