How to tell professor they calculated your grade wrong?

<p>In my English Lit class, I have saved all of my handed-back papers with the specific grades on them (we don't get an A, B, C, etc.... we get exact grades like 97% or 89%). In any case, my average should be a 98% in that class -- the lowest grade I ever got was a 96%, and the others were higher. I am positive that I have computed my grade correctly. HOWEVER, my professor just uploaded our final grades online (we have no more papers due this semester), and my final grade is a 92%, an A-. This is simply ridiculous, seeing as though I never even got below a 96% on any assignment. There are no "variable" criteria on the syllabus either, e.g. a participation grade or anything like that which could influence my grade negatively. It is evenly divided as 33% each for the first 2 papers and then 34% for the final paper.</p>

<p>How do I bring this up (I have to do it in an email as he already left the college for the semester)?</p>

<p>I would approach diplomatically it as “can you explain to me …” rather than telling him he did it wrong.</p>

<p>WHAAA!! Punch her in the FACE!</p>

<p>Think about it like a math assignment: Show your work or you won’t get credit. List each test with the percentage you got, show how you then calculated your final percentage and how it is different from the percentage you were awarded on your transcript. </p>

<p>Don’t attack, just be polite. “I think there was some mistake with my grade. I saved each of my tests and based on what I can calculate: show your work, it seems that I should have grade X. Can you explain to me what happened with the final grade? Am I using the wrong calculations or could there have been a small mistake?”</p>

<p>Kidnap her and interrogate her like Jack Bauer would.</p>

<p>I don’t know how to say this DCH, but I think… I think I love you?</p>

<p>An English professor? </p>

<p>Case closed. Clearly not your fault. Refer him/her to a weighted average formula. Or Excel. Or a calculator. Or the standard program your university uses.</p>

<p>Or maybe you forgot that your class is curved. (are you a freshman?)</p>

<p>Karabee if you’re a girl then I greatly appreciate your love and would like to arrange a tryst.</p>

<p>If you’re a guy, then I greatly appreciate your love but I cannot reciprocate it.</p>

<p>Luckily for the both of us, I’m of the female gender, and I am done with finals on Tuesday morning, leaving me plenty of time to travel between TN and MD.</p>

<p>One of my English colleagues walked back to where the math teachers’ offices are this week and asked how to figure a percentage. I teach English and can figure percentages, but I do not mind if students question my figuring at all. Mistakes are made; just go ask for a grade breakdown and bring your papers. People can write a grade in wrong or look a line up or down in a gradebook. Even with electronic gradebooks, a grade can be entered incorrectly.</p>

<p>Since you have already left campus, just send a detailed message with your grades and the grade breakdown for the semester and ask the prof to take another look at the grade.</p>

<p>Just say it. Tell the prof there’s a mistake on your grade. If the prof is offended, report her/his ass to the department chair, the dean’s office, and whoever else has the power to fire him/her.</p>

<p>Be direct but don’t be confrontational.</p>

<p>Just show your calculations, and politely ask if there’s been a mistake.</p>

<p>No reason to be indirect, rude or to report the professor. Everyone can make a mistake. Usually professors are happy to correct errors like this.</p>

<p>Excellent karabee. Meet me at the grassy knoll on Wednesday at 14:45.</p>

<p>Just say “could you my grade” or something, seems like so many people are afraid to confront professors! don’t know why…</p>

<p>Lol @ people assuming the English professor is female, even after he has been identified as male in the OP. :)</p>

<p>You answered your own question. Email the prof, politely.</p>

<p>If you don’t get a response in a few days, ask the department chair.</p>

<p>Save everything.</p>

<p>Be polite.</p>