Desperation

Tennyson once wrote, "In the spring a young man's fancy turns lightly to thoughts of grades" (or something like that). Is the following exchange truth or fiction? You be the judge!

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Dear Dr. P,

My grade in your course is drastically low, and way below my standards. First of all, so you are aware, I need at least a mid-level C. I feel that points are being shaved from quizes/participation. Over my years I have learned that English is a very subjective subject. Teachers control grades and influence them based upon how much, or how less they care for an individual. I want to work through this dilemma so that I may graduate and never deal with these circumstances again.

X
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Dear X,

I'd be happy to talk with you about your work in the course. On quizzes, students earn points by giving correct answers to the fact-based questions. As for participation, you earn points for contributing to discussion each day. On days when you do not contribute to discussion, you do not earn credit. Please note that you have only spoken in a handful of discussions this semester, and that you have not yet passed a reading quiz.

P
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Dear Dr. P,

I had an idea that maybe you will go for about a paper. Would you entertain the idea of allowing us to rewrite one of the papers that we did poorly on for some extra points? I thought, if you went for it, we could make it due next week on moday or wednesday. Just a thought.

X
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Dear X,

Please remember that we had built in time for a draft workshop and/or conferences before the last essay was due, so revision should have occurred at those stages.

P
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Dear Dr. P,

Hello, I saw that you gave a pop quiz on the day that I was absent. Even if I had been in class, I would have failed the quiz at that time. Will you entertain the notion of possibly allowing me to take the quiz? or maybe excusing me from the points? It would help significantly either way.

X
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Dear X,

I'm sorry, but the syllabus states that students cannot make up quizzes due to absence. I can't change that policy at this point; it wouldn't be fair to other students who have missed quizzes.

P
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Dear Dr. P,

So I worked through the figures and found this:
I need a pefect on the next two quizes [Blog readers: does anyone else see the irony in a sentence that argues for a "pefect" grade on two "quizes"?], at least a 90 on the paper; at least an A- on the final, at least an 80% on participation for the last round; and an a of some sort on the discussion questions. This is all achievable, but you must work through this with me. Therefore, I am submitting my final paper on wednesday or friday of next week. We will then go through it until it is an A paper. I will deliver a fabulous presentation on monday, and the rest is up to me. Out of curiosity would you be willing to allow me to rewrite the last close read paper? I know you have permitted other students to rewrite their papers in the past, and it would help.

X
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Dear X,

I am very happy to hear that you plan to put your best effort into our last few class meetings.

As I've stated, I will not accept further rewrites on the close reading papers, especially since you did not come prepared to our conference before the paper was due. I also must remind you that it is not appropriate for you to instruct me that I "must" ensure that you will receive the grade you desire: I can guarantee no student any grade. I will happily look at a draft of your essay with you, but I cannot promise to "go through it until it is an A paper." The quality of your work is ultimately your responsibility, not mine, and your suggestion that I should bring your paper up to the level you desire is simply absurd [deleted: if not obnoxious]. Additionally, while your participation in class on Wednesday showed marked improvement, please remember that nearly half of the final batch of participation points had already been assigned during the weeks in which you failed to participate in class. Finally, given your concern about your grade, it is important that you begin arriving to class on time.

P
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Dear Dr. P,

I believe that you took my "must" comment in the wrong manner. It was not meant to be arrogant or pushy, but to imply that your assistance would help significantly. As for the paper, I am told that Y rewrote his first paper or else I would not ask. I understand your comments, and do not agree with you on the matter. What I am telling you is that I am putting forth the effort to close the deal. Finaly, you asserted that I "failed to participate in class," which is an inacurate statement. Even though my participation was not anything to write home about, I did add at least one comment in every class.

X
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Dear X,

As I have stated three times already, you may not rewrite your essay at this point in the course. I occasionally allow rewrites on the first assignment of the semester when a student has misunderstood the assignment. That is not the case here.

As I mentioned, I am happy to hear that you are planning to put forth your best effort. If you do so, you will see a marked improvement on the remaining assignments. Obviously, however, good work on the remaining assignments does not alter the grades for assignments turned in in the past.

Regarding your participation, more often than not, your comments have revealed a dismaying lack of familiarity with the reading for the day. Simply saying "I don't know" or "You'll have to pass me for today" does not constitute participation.

P