What should/can I do?

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>I'm in a tight situation at the moment... </p>

<p>So, about a month and half ago, I posted on this forum about a teacher that basically gave out the most BS tests and asked if I should drop them or not. Well, the opinion was basically a No, and I should study harder and stuff.</p>

<p>Well, I stuck in it, and currently am holding a 94% in the class. I NEED an A in this class, so I plan to do good on the final.</p>

<p>That being said, the final should be decently easy, after the first test, she started to grade a LOT easier.</p>

<p>My problem? I've made her mad. It's a stupid thing, I know, but basically today she went off on an hour long tangent and I corrected her on a few things. Basically differences between bonds and stuff and having taken AP Chem in HS, I knew what I was talking about. </p>

<p>She told me to stay after class and in a stern voice, announced that I had to come up with sources backing up my claims. Well, I just finished the email in the most political way I could (neutral) and sent it in. Basically explaining my point of view, then linking to a scientific magazine that talks about this. </p>

<p>I could totally see her be a total ***** and grade incredibly harshly on the final (like for every misspelled word, I'd miss like 1 point - she's done that before) and totally screw me over. While things like Paris, nano technology are generally easy things to spell, things like polyhydrocarbonate-8 gets kind of tough. And she'd be able to do this just for me as I'm only 1 in a class of 8 or so.</p>

<p>Now, in the happening that this happens (because I do disagree with a lot of what she says) what should and can I do? I know colleges differ a lot, but in the instance I get a low grade and suspect unfair grading, could I take it to the dean and get the grade revoked?</p>

<p>Now this may seem slightly cocky of me to think that I have a chance at an A so far ahead (test is on Monday) without seeing the final, but basically she said the final was 80 questions, 60 of them were gonna be on our last tests. So if I study those and basically memorize them, I can easily get at least 60/80 and as long as I put enough time / effort, I know I can pull it off.</p>

<p>So advice? Am I being a bit too paranoid too close to exam time?</p>

2

<p>well if she obviously fails you and you get a really low score then i would go to another student that did good and compare tests. worse comes to worse maybe she did grade unfairly. in that scenario, if it's possible and if the other student is ok, take it up with her and tell her that you compared your exam with another student and you got a significantly lower grade. if that doesn't help and it's really a big issue, considering you've been doing good so far, then take it up with the school itself (administration or whatever). That's the best I could think of. Either way I would just let the test come and then see what happens from there.</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
Basically differences between bonds and stuff and having taken AP Chem in HS, I knew what I was talking about.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>So? I don't care if you're right or not, stop being such a prick about it. Taking AP Chem in HS doesn't make you a Chem god...and she's obviously taken more Chem courses and done more work in the area than you have. Just stop digging yourself a deeper hole.</p>

4

<p>^ kind of harsh, but I have to agree.</p>

<p>Just study your previous tests and triple check for spelling errors.</p>

5

<p>Study extra hard. Don't complain about the score you get. Stop arguing with professors.</p>

6

<p>I agree with katho11. Man I took AP chem and honors chem but that doesn't mean I remember anything from it (haha). I also suggest slightly sucking up to the professor and hope for the best. NEVER argue with somebody who gives you the grades.</p>

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<p>Yeah, first stop arguing with profs. If you just have to say something, do it after class, and phrase it as a question. The whole "I thought {whatever} acted like __<strong><em>, but you said they acted like _</em></strong>_, can you explain the difference?" sort of phrasing works a lot better than correcting a prof in class. And then if you still don't believe her explanation, you can bring up the "I'm still just not getting this, and I found this article that explains it this way" in an e-mail. It's called tact, and you'd be wise to develop some.</p>

<p>Second, if she grades your exam much more harshly, then you can always appeal the grade. Look in your bulletin for policies on how to do this. It could be a drawn out process that takes more than a semester (or longer) but it can give you the grade you want if you have been legitimately fleeced (and you can prove it).</p>

<p>Third, and MOST IMPORTANTLY - it's okay to get a B once in a while. Unless you're pulling C's in your other courses and will lose your scholarships, you never have to get an A in anything.</p>

<p>Lastly, avoid taking courses from this prof ever again. I'm sure you're way ahead of the curve on that one, but just making sure.</p>

8

<p>I agree with what has been said. You only took AP (= high school) chem and you do not know anything close to a professor with a PhD in the subject. She probably found it disrespectful that you contradicted in her during class instead of asking for clarifications during office hours.</p>

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<p>no, taking AP Chem doesn't make me at all a Chem god... saying that Triple bonds are weaker than single bonds in general situations makes me go O_o;</p>

10

<p>people claiming that taking APs is some kind of achievement and gives them some kind of mastery over the subject <em>es me off. Seriously, APs are waaay easier than college classes (yes even if you think your HS was the best in the universe, your AP courses still don't compare). O yea, and no matter how much of an a</em> ur chem prof is, he/she still knows 1000000000000000000times more than you do about chem so don't argue.</p>

11

<p>but... but... it's cited that triple bonds are harder to break than single bonds...</p>

<p>It's not something that's totally that boggles the mind... </p>

<p>If it wasn't for a general case, I wouldn't have pipped up but... she made it clear it was general...</p>

<p>and she's not a Chemistry professor, she even claimed to have no real background in Chemistry. I'm not sure what kind of professor she is, it's a study of Materials class. :'(</p>

12

<p>You're a fool ok. I think you deserve this because you're a gunner who brought this on him/herself. If you know she's wrong, good for you. You should be contentwith that fact.</p>

13

<p>
[QUOTE]
people claiming that taking APs is some kind of achievement and gives them some kind of mastery over the subject ****es me off. Seriously, APs are waaay easier than college classes (yes even if you think your HS was the best in the universe, your AP courses still don't compare).

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>not to change the subject or anything, but I would have to disagree here a little--some AP classes have been way harder for me than their intro counterparts at college. We covered some stuff in my AP econ class that I still havn't covered in college and I'm just wrapping up my 3rd econ class as an econ major. some AP's are more indepth than college classes, and it really does depend on your high school.</p>

<p>That being said--you have to keep in mind that your college prof is the one who gives out grades, and especially if you know she's got a volatile grading personality, it's just stupid to rock the boat so close to finals if you've got a boarderline grade.</p>

14

<p>Wait... It's wrong to disagree with a professor, even when you know you are right? We have to bend over and bow down to misinformation, just for a good grade? To hell with that I say! </p>

<p>If I were you, I would just talk to my professor as nicely as possible and tell her how you did not mean to offend her or challenge her in such a way as to make her look bad. </p>

<p>I'm proud of you for standing up for what you believe in. If the professor is angry that she was wrong, she needs a lesson in humility.</p>

<p>"You're a fool ok. I think you deserve this because you're a gunner who brought this on him/herself. If you know she's wrong, good for you. You should be contentwith that fact."</p>

<p>What if she grades tests using the wrong information?</p>

15

<p>It's not even about who's right or wrong...it's about the approach. Calling a professor out in class and arguing with them simply isn't the right way to handle the situation. </p>

<p>Especially when you use any variant of the phrase "I took AP Chem in HS" in your argument...</p>

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<p>to the OP: Grow up.</p>

17

<p>Study your previous tests. Take it, and if she seems unusually hard on you, go to your dean. </p>

<p>Next time, just be careful when questioning a prof. Pose everything as a question. "I'm not sure I understand _____________ , is it due to ____________ or ______________ , or are there special cases where ____________ is or isn't the norm?" Then, go from there.</p>

<p>Questioning is good, and professors sometimes do have egos as well. Tread carefully.</p>

18

<p>I agree completely with bigredmed- I've been there. I've learned my lesson this semester. Though this didn't have any relevance to me taking an AP- more to do with the professor's unproductive comments on my writing.</p>

<p>Don't argue, period. Especially for your last exam. I got my last paper back- it was slightly better than the first. But I was so offended that his comments hadn't changed and felt that he should be partly responsible for my grade because he was just not helping me at all. I managed to talk myself out of it by looking at the BIG PICTURE. I wasn't going to get anything below a B- and I have a chance at a B. So instead of storming to the professor's office right after taking my final, I walked the other way.</p>

<p>Now I feel pretty good about it. Even though he gets to grade what he wants, it doesn't give an overall picture of who I am as a student- I have a 31 other grades to back me up. </p>

<p>You need to realize when it's time to chill and when it's not. Professors are truly egostical people out there because of the merits of getting a PhD. Also, being in the academics is ALL about debate and arguments over concepts- so it's perfectly fine if she doesn't agree with your cited sources. I've had professors hand me readings that they don't necessarily love but do it to get our opinions.</p>

<p>Seriously, forget everything you've learned about AP Chem. Taking that course made your overall intro to chem experience in college a lot easier- you're taking it for granted and don't see the overall picture.</p>

<p>You worked hard and you know it. You know that you've made accomplishments in this class and that grade wouldn't stand if you had let the professor get to you early on.</p>

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<p>i say stand up for your rights. so maybe your corrections came off a bit condescending to the teacher. however, it's just one teacher and their opinion and other professors could have reacted much more differently. remember, the teacher may have a PhD but that doesn't mean that he/she is a"better human being" than you and you should still have your say although i suggest you take a more conservative approach the next time. btw, sounds to me like your teacher has like an insecurity issue lol</p>

<p>if you find a valid argument (i mean FIRST COMPARE YOUR TEST WITH ANOTHER) and you're paying $40,000+ a year to the institution you should have the right to be fairly graded even if a teacher was PMSing that day...</p>

20

<p>Are you sure you didn't misunderstand your professor?</p>

<p>Other than that, I really don't have much new to say that hasn't already been said. Be careful about your approach, but even better, don't argue at all. Just take the tests based on what you learn in class and do well. You arguing with your prof isn't going to change his or her opinion. Your professor is not going to have some epiphany and change what she teaches. Your professor has, in fact, a lot more knowledge than you, so be careful what you do.</p>