Late assignment penalty has always been a controversial topic in our education system, deducting marks in particular, is a popular form of academic penalty practiced by many education institutes. A detailed analysis below will outline both the pros and cons of such a widely practiced method to form an unbiased conclusion.
To begin, marks deduction is a form of learning which puts strong emphasis on one’s responsibility. By enacting late submission policy, students may experience a sense of urgency and feel more compelled to complete the task prior to the due date. Furthermore, it is fair to those students who respect the rule while putting in the effort to complete the task on time. Ultimately, the negative consequence for not finishing the assignment on time is an important lesson on meeting deadlines which the students should learn from.
On the opposite of the spectrum, this type of policy is not without adverse effect. For example, one may argue that such method of punishment is unwarranted, as the assessment is not focusing objectively on the quality of the assignment, but rather shifting onto one’s behaviour. Notwithstanding the aforementioned case, imposing such academic penalty could lead to potential, technically justified, yet unfortunate dismissal of outstanding work.
In the light of the discussion above, it can be concluded that despite the unpopular nature of deducting marks amongst students, it is still an effective method to reduce the occurrence of late assignment.
