From: Debora Siegel <debora.siegel@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: The inherent unfairness of the log. Hi everyone, I really wouldn't want to give up on the opportunity to choose the literature pieces I want to teach in the name of standardization. I also believe requiring a portfolio of literature based work (the Log) is valid -- and I think it should be required of all students whether or not the Log is used as the grade for the F module. As I have already proposed, I think the oral bagrut should be the opportunity for the pupils to speak about their literature program and show off their literature portfolios -- for all pupils whether or not they are doing the literature exam. However I think that the portfolio should be largely creative tasks -- responses to the literature and research tasks -- expanding on the literature -- and not have to include the other tasks except for the summative exams which I believe should be essays and/or open ended questions rather than mock literature exams. And to continue, I would get rid of the E module for the 5 pointers -- so that one exam would include listening and reading comprehension. The second exam would be writing TWO essays. One of the essays being literature based -- questions such as - in your opinion which of the literature pieces do you think was most meaningful; which of the literature pieces would you omit, compare and contrast the protagonists from two pieces of literature you have read and so forth. It may be possible to make one exam with all four tasks (reading, listening, essay) which was what the bagrut was once like... I am not sure what I would do for 4 pointers -- since the log came to be, they no longer have to write an essay so the difference between 4 points and 5 points has grown which perhaps is good ... The subjectivity of the log -- in addition to the fact that individual teacher requirements vary considerably-- occupies my thoughts a lot. There is really no way that the log can be an objective standardized method of evaluation. Therefore, if I were in charge, I would make it a requirement rather than a module. For example, declaring that pupils wouldn't be allowed to take the oral and written exam without having completed the log with a passing grade (passing grade could be 80 or more). Teachers would still have to hand in a sampling of logs to the ministry to make sure they are being done properly, and the portfolio grade could become the year grade (magen grade) for the written and or oral exams so that it would remain an important part of their English program and would also give the magen grade a more objective basis -- a grade that reflects the student's efforts, commitment and ability to express himself in English rather than a grade that attempts to forecast what the pupil will get on his written exam. The literature exam would then be available only to external students -- who are not taking the bagrut in a high school setting. Food for thought ... Shabbat shalom... Debora ************************************** ** Join ETNI on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/31737970668/ ** ETNI Blog and Poll http://ask-etni.blogspot.co.il/ ** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org ** post to ETNI List - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** help - ask@xxxxxxxx ***************************************