Do exams take away crucial knowledge needed....

[cookderosa]

While formatting rules can be annoying, there is a very good reason to get used to this. In high school, we were required to use MLA. In my undergraduate classes, we were required to use APA. In my graduate program, we are using the Chicago Styles. I know that not everyone wants to become a researcher, but these standardized formats exist for a reason.

I just had a professor who docked my papers because he didn't like my choice of words. None of my other professors have had any problems with my wording. It was only him and I was quite upset that he could affect my GPA based on his personal preferences for writing style which can't even be spelled out in a rubric.

Who gets used to it? The 26% that make it through. (86% of all high school graduates START college. 26% will graduate) Who goes to grad school? 13%. Have only 13% of the Americans "learned" English?
When did you last send a business letter in APA or MLA? Puh-leeze.
I've always stood in the same arena, college is a credential. Jump through the hoops to get the piece of paper. If you can avoid crap, do so. If you can avoid spending extra money, do so. If you can avoid dealing with teachers, do so. I promise you, bullpoo like punitive teaching absolutely 100% causes students to drop classes. The resilient 26% are just the people that have figured it out and are doing it anyway. I don't think learning is EVER part of it.