Of course, all of these lessons are as nothing when compared to the importance of anything having to do with grades. While a few notable students did genuinely seem to be interested in learning for learning's sake, the majority of students are concerned with grades. We have learned previously that grades on their own are not sufficient motivation for students to succeed: we have to engage them. The saying that is quickly on its way to being a cliche within the department is ``You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.'' This is more that just superficially true: a horse dying of thirst cannot be forced to drink, nor can students necessarily be forced to save themselves, even when we make the opportunities available to them. On the other hand, most of them are concerned, and given an opportunity they will act, although perhaps not as decisively or quickly as we as instructors might hope.
Three main things had more influence on student grades than anything else during this session: my experiences at Mudd, the experimental Point System, and the ``C- Rule''. I will discuss each of these briefly.