Here's one possible solution: Ask all of the students in the class which
grades they would give to the student in question, average those grades
together, and then you have the quiz grade. This would be the "democratic"
solution.
Here's another: Give the student in question whatever grade *you* feel he
deserves. Forget about what the rest of the students think. This would be
the "authoritarian" solution.
Of course, these are not the only solutions. Far from it. But isn't there
a bit of irony in this situation, inasmuch as the democratic impulse of the
professional computers and writing community--at times--conflicts with the
wishes of the majority of our students?
Obviously, there's no easy answer. There's probably not an "answer" at
all. But at some point, definitive stands have to be taken. This seems to
be one of those times.
Tim Mayers
tmay9225@uriacc.uri.edu