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Essays should be read by humans, not computers
To the Editor:
I recently read your article in the Jan. 31 Reporter on the future uses of computer software to grade student handwritten essays. Frankly, I am appalled.
I suppose I knew deep down this would happen someday in the future when bionic brains ruled our lives, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon. I am all for electronic grading to speed up the process in the cases of multiple-choice questions. It's been around for decades. But come on, people. Get your heads on straight! I would be insulted to know the effort I had put into an essay would never see a human eye. You may as well put an android at the head of the class teaching Shakespeare. My, think of the money and benefits you could save.
The written word was meant to be read by humans, not machines. I don't care how sophisticated the computer, how can you program humor, sadness or emotion? Good writing is more than information, sentence structure and proper grammar.
In today's society, I find it amusing that there is so much money put into software to enhance students' abilities to use the written word, but when they finally do get a job, the most they ever write are letters to the editor, an unreadable text message or a misspelled email.
Oh, and by the way…are you really human? If not, please forward to a sentient being.
Thank you.
Peggy J. Pajak
University Libraries
Preservation Program