Grade Appeal Battle! Duking it out with Prof.

Transfer Students
1

<p>Need rebuttals and argument ideas. Please help! </p>

<p>So here is my situation,</p>

<p>I took calc during the winter intercession (6 weeks). I ended up with a 71.8 percent overall. According to the prof.'s syllabus, a 75%+ ensures a C anything between 70-75% "may receive a D if I feel they did not put forth adequate effort. Also any student who does not score at least a 60% on final will receive a D." </p>

<p>I scored a 65% on the final, perfect attendance, and 95% on homework (she drops lowest 8 homework btw). And she dropped the lowest test score and replaces it with my final</p>

<p>Before you quickly pass me off as a slacker, I have a 3.8 gpa on all course besides math. Math isn't my strong suit. In addition my mother (only working family member) lost her job during the intercession and that placed a lot of stress on me. </p>

<p>So here's the tricky bit,</p>

<p>I want a C so that my transfer admission acceptance doesn't get rescinded. She is determined to give me a D.</p>

<p>As a compromise she offered me a retake on the final. I accepted thinking it would be basic demonstration of calc knowledge. However she gave me a tricky and difficult final and I ended up with a 60%, I needed an 80% to pass. </p>

<p>I argued on the "adequate effort" part on being vague. She said that was for students who started bad but redeemed themselves at the end (which is bs i think). I should fulfill the adequate effort requirement because of my near perfect hw and attendance, which showed that I tried. This is my main argument.</p>

<p>I also told her about my situation with my mom and my acceptance. She said she couldn’t grade based on circumstances. Which I understand but couldn't the same thing be said about people with disabilities? They get special treatment. Not trying to be ignorant just an observation. </p>

<p>So after reading this any possible new arguments that I can make against her?</p>

<p>I have filed a formal grade appeal, which would go through the vice president and president and eventually the board of trustees.</p>

<p>Thanks for helping fellow CCers.</p>

2

<p>In a metaphysical sense, you could always make the argument that helping you now would have tremendously positive consequences down the road. Tell her that her act of forbearance vis-a-vis your grade will provide you with a model for how to act when faced with the same moral deliberation. Or if she doesn’t buy that, get on your knees and beg until tears flow down your face (semi-serious). In the end, keep in mind that a C in Calculus isn’t the end of your academic journey. </p>

<p>Shalom.</p>

3

<p>Thanks. But I need concrete arguments. I tried the “sobbing act” didn’t work. </p>

<p>By concrete arguments, I mean loopholes in her grading e.g. her “adequate effort” clause. I thought about criticizing her grading because she should’ve given me something significantly lower then, otherwise we won’t be here. I am also probably going to criticize her on her teaching because she usually teaches remedial math (algebra). </p>

<p>And her “adequate effort” I argue are intentionally misleading because of my situation. So this could fall into fraud or bad faith. </p>

<p>We are sitting in front of the vice president so no holds bar for me. The gloves are off.</p>

<p>Any more suggestions? I appreciate it eyethink thanks.</p>

4

<p>So you didn’t earn the grade, but you think you’re entitled to it? I don’t feel sorry for you at all. Good luck reapplying for fall 2012.</p>

5

<p>Your professor’s policy basically implies that you’ll be rewarded more for failing the first couple of exams and “showing improvement” in the last half of the semester more than you will by consistently scoring in the low 70’s despite putting forth your best effort. </p>

<p>Hopefully you win your appeal. I don’t see what her problem is. She should just give you the C. It’s really not a big deal.</p>

6

<p>I go to a CCC. A 71% is a C in all calc classes I’ve taken, and most likely all calc classes across the board. This kind of subjective, wishy-washy grading (“adequate effort?”) sounds insane to me and to be perfectly honest your teacher sound a bit clueless (as have some of mine). I would absolutely go before the board to defend myself, but I would not throw stones at the teacher. I would compile a list of grading scales from all the calc teachers in your school, showing a 70-79% C. That at least gives you somewhat of a solid argument when you’re up in front of the vice president. Anyway, good luck.</p>

7

<p>if the dean is fair, i think you’ll be okay. your grievance is totally legitimate.</p>

<p>i actually disagree that the wording “adequate effort” is ambiguous. it is clear enough and that will help you. attendance, classroom participation, and homework performance are virtually the only measurements of “effort” available to your professor. for her to pretend that “adequate effort” means anything beyond those three values is simply unfair and will detract from her position. emphasize how you’ve attended every class, participated in discussions, and scored well on homework. the dean should easily conclude that that matches any reasonable definition of “adequate effort.”</p>

<p>the syllabus is actually fairly straightforward: you will get a C if you fall between 70-75% and have shown adequate effort. you have done this.</p>

<p>i hope the dean frowns upon the elasticity with which your professor treats her syllabus, and also that he finds equating a 72 with a D as ridiculous as I do.</p>

<p>good luck.</p>

8

<p>That sounds like a great idea tot222 thanks.</p>

9

<p>if you try to fight a teacher…you will always lose.</p>

10

<p>Kind of a stupid policy but it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to save your grade. </p>

<p>Also, is your transfer admission definitely going to get rescinded if you do get a D?</p>

11

<p>@coolio</p>

<p>It depends on the school. But generally yes for top 30 schools that I’ve found through researching.</p>

12

<p>Haha ah, ok. I’m just afraid that somehow one of my grades will drop to a D this semester…I’m a fear-mongerer though…hahaha</p>