valid evaluations of academic writing?
I would like to believe so. They are, after all, the exact audience that the papers we write are meant for. Their evaluation of the content, relevance, and sources reflects the ability of the writer to go a good job. Why? It isn't easy to please these professors. They find any excuse to deduct a point or two from the paper that, if the student did not request revisions for upon submission, satisfied the academic requirements or personal requirements of the student. Now, while there are really some professors who just cannot be satisfied, they normally do not take it out on the written paper. They just feel the student / writer can still do better. So that indicates a potential or room for improvement on the writer's side. Writer's never stop learning and the grade, as a method of evaluation for the writer skills, will reflect the additional training that the writer needs to further improve his skills.