When I first started teaching, a supervisor told me this theory that I could present to the students. "Think of me as your employer and your grade is your paycheck." By setting clear expectations, guidelines, and policies, the students will develop the understanding that everything they do is a reflection of how they will be once they get out in the workplace. If a student's goal is to get an A, they will only earn it if they communicate well, study appropriately, and communicate any concerns they have along the way in a professional manner. This is what an employer would expect, so I apply this tehory to every class to help prepare them for the real world.