<p>My friend just called me a "complainer/whiner" because I always want to make sure my final grades in a course are correct before moving on to the next quarter/semester. If they are incorrect, I usually email the teacher explaining how they came up with their score. Most often, the professors realize that they made a mistake and corrected my grade on the server. I don't usually do this on a common basis, but what is wrong with this approach? I refuse to believe (like my friend) that whatever grade is listed on the transcript is final even though you know it's wrong and incorrect. I find my friend's behavior very passive and ridiculous, even if he does not want to consult the professor. He thinks my approach will make professors dislike students even more (I've never had this problem). What do you think?</p>
<p>For example, I'm looking on Blackboard and I see a total of 89/96 (he has the summaaries, midterm report and final grade broken down and listed). I don't know the exact grading criteria, but I'm assuming it's a 92.7%. That equals an A. I never missed class and always particiated in discussions. I think I should email the professor and ask why I received an A- instead of an A.</p>
<p>I don't see anyting wrong with your approach. DS received an incorrect grade in HS - clerical or some sort of error posted an 8x (can't remember), when he had never received below 90 in any class. If we hadn't contacted the teacher, who else would have picked up the error? It was off by 5 or 6 points and easily corrected before ever going out on an official transcript, affecting Honors etc.</p>
<p>I totally agree with your approach! As long as it is handled in an appropriate manner, you have every right to ask for a recalculation. This is your future, not your professors, so looking out for yourself is your responsibility. Mistakes are made ALL the time. At the end of a grading period, teachers have to wade through many grade sheets and get grades reported usually in a short period of time. They're human, mistakes are not uncommon. Son has had several grade changes due to teacher error throughout H.S. Usually, the teacher is very apologetic, not disdainful toward a student who cares enough to ask. Keep up your vigilance and tell your friend he's foolish for not doing so himself.</p>
<p>Did your professor hand out a syllabus at the beginning of the term?</p>
<p>If yes, on that syllabus, did s/he state their grading structure? I am a little confused as why you are graded on a basis of 96 point vs. a 100 point scale. Is 96 the maximum number of points one could have received in this course?</p>
<p>It has been my experience at most schools that I have attended, that your grade of 92.7 is an A- (a grade of "A" is for 93 and above) and the professor grades you correctly. </p>
<p>As a junior at your Northwestern, I am quite sure that you are well versed in the grading structure at your school. </p>
<p>I think that the real issue is that *you * feel you should have gotten an A in the course since it was "only" .3 of a point. In this scenario in my opinion, you do sound a little whining and you also sound as if you are grade grubbing.</p>
<p>the net-net is: Did the professor make a mistake in calculating your grades? </p>
<p>If no, s/he is not worng to give you a graded based on the work that you did.</p>
<p>Sybbie, it shocked me that his grading criteria came to a total of 96 points when the syllabus clearly stated 20% summaries, 30% midterm report and 50% final paper. I don't know where they got the 96 points. According to the computer screen, I got a 16/16 on summaries (or 18/18? I counted a total of 18 summaries on the screen yet the TA only counted 16), 29/30 on the midterm report and a 44/50 on the final paper. So I see a total of 98 points on the computer screen. But only 96 were counted. Therefore, I'm lost as to whether they dropped the lowest grade or not (this is not stated on the syllabus). If class participation hurted me, I don't understand why as I went to every class session (never missed one) and participated all the time. I'm also worried because the professor below said class participation, yet class participation was never factored in on the computer screen. </p>
<p>This is what I see from the syllabus:
1 page weekly notes & participation ..20%
a report on current article/book ..........30%<br>
final paper 50%</p>
<p>
[quote]
If class participation hurted me, I don't understand why as I went to every class session (never missed one) and participated all the time.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I am not a fan for giving credit for class participation/attendance because I think that showing up is a basic requirement of the class and should not be rewarded. You are not showing up for the teacher/professor you are showing up for you.</p>
<p>Participation (especially at the college level) can be a very subjective area because some people talk all of the time and never contribute anything meaningful to the learning environment while others may only speak when they feel they have something meaninful to contribute.</p>
<p>s/he may be a stickler but a 92.8 is still an A- .(It is the professor's choice as s/he does not have to give you fractions of a point to make your grade an "A".) it might be harsh, but the professor is perfectly within his/her right to do this and the committee on academic standins will most likely support it.</p>
<p>Thanks sybbie. I'm still going to the professor when winter break is over (it's really not a big deal so I can just postpone it til school resumes). To imagine that I missed an A by 0.1-0.3 percentage points. Ah!</p>
<p>Unlike Sybbie, I think that the subjective nature of class discussion makes it more necessary to ask for clarification from your professor. </p>
<p>I remember have a test re-graded (just though that there was no way the grade could be right) and I think I got an extra 30 points or something. </p>
<p>Yes, a 92.8 could be a 92 (truncated), or the professor could have a policy of putting it at a 93 (rounding). There certainly could have been an error there. Just because the professor was within his rights to give the A- doesn't mean a) that he does so as a matter of course and b) that he intended to do so here.</p>
<p>If there is genuine ambiguity, ask (politely) for clarification.</p>
<p>so I am wondering - with my d in high school should I be keeping track of her scores on assigments/tests?
I dont 'think teachers are allowed to give points for participation- but this is a new thing- before teachers would acknowledge students who participated/showed up on time/prepared etc- but with complaints from the AP students parents whose students aced the tests and did teh assignments but didn't necessarily make all the classes- particpation grades have been eliminated.
I have just been assuming that the teachers are able to keep track- but as they don't necessarily have even TAs to help them with keeping track of 150 students every day- maybe I should be keeping my own records>?</p>