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Failings of discussion sections

Mandatory graded discussion sections must go. Although there are many wonderful, caring and intelligent TAs out there, the discussion section serves only as an unnecessary bridge to the small and focused classes of high school. There is no denying that many students find discussion section to be of great use to them and it never hurts the final grade to spend extra time covering a subject. But mandatory graded discussion sections take away valuable lecture time from professors, force students who may not need review to sit for a question and answer session, and put pressure on students to speak up and kiss up to the TA simply to increase their participation grade. For many students, mandatory discussion sections are simply a waste of time.

The discussion section is supposedly designed to allow for a more personal connection with course material through small and directed meetings with a TA. When a professor lectures for two hours a week in front of 200 students, there is little room for questions or comments. Thus we have the discussion section and a graduate student assigned to answer those questions, foster deeper discussion and improve understanding. Discussion moves from the general to the specific and some students choose to go to section over lecture for the in-depth review, but section serves only to enhance understanding of the necessary lecture and provide repetition which some students do not want.

Great writing ability, detailed understanding of concepts and memorization of facts should merit a top grade, but the participation grade holds considerable weight. Regardless of the conversation being held, students must reply with regurgitated information or get marked down for not participating. In 100- and 200-level courses, the TA stimulates debate and certainly can increase critical understanding, but they tend not to provide new materials that have not been discussed in lecture. As such, the section can be a great addition to lecture, but it should not be mandatory.

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