<p>Here’s another little thought experiment. A university offers a course in Introductory General Psychology, and a specialized follow-up course in Abnormal Psychology.</p>
<p>An instructor teaches both courses, and assigns a paper on the topic of “Schizophrenia” in both courses.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Should an identical paper receive an identical grade in both courses? Or should the instructor expect different levels of performance and grade the two papers differently- Because one would assume that if the professor were doing their job, the paper in the abnormal psych course should approach the subject from different angles and more in depth than a paper in the other course. To me an identical paper receiving an identical grade in these courses is an example of laziness on the part of the instructor.</p></li>
<li><p>If the instructor does not review and grade the papers to this standard, are they guilty of “defrauding” the student? Because let’s remember that with respect to the pecuniary arrangement, the money flows from the student to tthe professor, at least at some level. Not the other way around.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>and finally,
3. Is it common for two supposedly different courses at a university to approach the same subject from exactly the same point of view and at exactly the same expected level of specificity? To me, that’s a waste of the student’s time and money. That subject matter should be eliminated from one of the courses to make room for new material.</p>