I am a middle aged academic, and I lived through the phase where academic judgement was untouchable.
Now it has become quite different. The worst days of my year are when I put the grades out, and the usual flow of complaints comes in. You didn't give me enough points. I did more than the others. I am strongly against the mark that you gave me. Etc.
Referring to the syllabus or the marking scheme seems the obvious answer, but still students will argue against the judgement.
In an era when the 'academic freedom' is no more arguable as a blanket defense, what are the most effective ways to deal with students' complaints?
