Help SnoopyFan contest her Geography grade

In My Humble Opinion
1

Okay, here’s the situation:

Summer school’s first session ends Friday. I have worked my ass off, especially in my Geography class.

All of our tests are worth 50 points apiece and we can only take them online. I logged in tonight ready to take the test, only to find that the deadline was 2pm today! I could have sworn it was midnight tonight!

So basically, I’m screwed. I emailed him begging him to let me take it – and who knows, maybe he’ll be merciful (FWIW I’ve done great on all other assignments, I contribute regularly to class discussions and I’ve had really good attendance), but I suspect he’ll say no. If he lets me take this test, I’ll get an A in the class, no sweat. Like I said, I’ve worked hard. With a 0 on this test, though, I’ll have a low C. I’m really anal about my grades so this has really got me upset.

He had it on the class website all along that the deadline was 2 … however, the reason I thought it was midnight is because our usual deadline for homework is midnight. He didn’t do anything wrong, but I did make an honest mistake. I didn’t conveniently “forget” to take the test long enough to, say, ask around about what was on the test to my other classmates.

So on paper, anyway, I have no case.

However, would it be wrong to contest it anyway?

This guy has a reputation for playing favorites (especially with athletes). Every single time we have a map quiz, an athlete that sits next to me cheats — EVERY time, and I am positive the professor knows this (he flat out saw him do it one day). I also happen to know that, so far, anyway, he hasn’t done anything about it.

So, if he doesn’t let me take the test, I’m tempted to contest it anyway and ask why athletes are allowed to blatantly cheat in class with no repercussions, but honest students aren’t shown a little mercy when they make an honest mistake.

Would this be bitchy of me? Is there a better argument I could use? Should I just forget about it and gulp accept the C? It wouldn’t bother me so much if I was going to make a bad grade in there anyway but I have worked SO HARD for an A!!!

2

Plus, if I ask the “why do athletes get to cheat” question, do I run the risk of getting in trouble for not reporting said athlete for cheating?

3

I would say to just ask the teacher politely and drop the idea of blackmailing him with your knowledge that he lets athletes cheat. After all, you have no proof that any of the athletes even cheated, let alone that he knows they cheat, even if you saw what you saw. It makes you come off in the wrong way, and nothing is guaranteed to turn off any slivers of mercy he might still be inclined to show quicker.

And don’t be surprised if you lose out. You made an honest mistake, but it is your responsibility to know when the test worth such a large chunk of your grade is. As long as he made the information available, he did his part.

4

Yeah probably so :frowning:

sigh

FUCK!

5

Hard break there bucko. Welcome to the real world. You think this is bad? Allow me to share a story. I was in court the other day, a lady showed up 10 minutes late for her hearing, and the judge wouldn’t let her in, even though her case hadn’t been called yet. The judge issued a body attachment for her, which is like a civil arrest warrant. In other words, this lady was 10 minutes late, and now she gets to go to jail and post $3,500 bond. Deadlines matter, consider this a lesson in that fact.

(But it is always worth a shot to ask, but don’t try the blackmail thing, not a good idea. If, however, you feel that the grading in the class has been arbitrary in that you are being held to a different standard than others, you might consider going to the Dean. Since you have no proof, I suspect you will get nothing out of it.)

6

Like I said, I emailed him and told him what happened and asked if I could take it. If he says no I guess I have no choice but to let it drop and keep my mouth shut.

Too bad I’m not a male football player, I guess.

7

Do you have evidence that any male football players have been allowed to take exams late? Otherwise the fact that they are cheating isn’t really relevant, is it?

8

It never hurts to ask, but don’t be TOO angry if he says no.

Once, my first semester of college, I was going through a pretty severe period of depression, and I actually forgot that we had a test the one day in Psych. When I went to class, I think I mentioned in passing that I had forgotten about the test. The professor told me I could take it later that week and actually, when I went to talk to her, I mentioned why I forgot and she reccomended I talk to a school counselor, and ended up really helping me.

Why am I telling you this? Basically, because, so many students are afraid to ask their professors for help, or whatever. The worst thing they can do is say no.

9

Do make an honest plea to him (which it sounds like you did). A similar thing happened to me a year ago, and the teacher was kind enough to let me make it up, though I strongly think he never even read my paper, but just gave it an arbitrary grade. Still, the grade was much better than a 0, so I was happy.

In case you want to know what happened, was that there was a paper assignment handed out, very easy 2-3 page essay format (in a genetics class). I missed the lecture where it was actually handed out, and the next two lectures we had a sub since the prof was away at a conference. Although the due date was in the syllabus (a fact he pointed out to me many times as I pleaded with him) I did not remember it specifically, only enough to know it was due “sometime in March”. Somehow, between the lecture I missed and the due date, which was the first lecture he was back, I simply had not heard that the assignment had been handed out. I had obtained course notes and read up on all the readings, but in my discussions and questions to classmates to help me catch up, the fact that the paper topic was assigned just never came up. Was it my fault? Yes. But was it a stupid, honest mistake? Yes as well. I really had to almost beg the prof to give me an extension (he gave me 3 days, I finished most of it that night and handed it in the next day) but I am glad he did.

Of course, he then screwed over the whole class on the final, so I am not too grateful to him. Although without that small extension, I would have failed the class, or just barely passed it at best.

10

Rhum, exams late? No. Sitting there filling in the answers on a map quiz as papers are being passed to the front of the room? Seen it with my own two eyes several times, and one time I KNOW the Professor saw it too. Ever since then after a map quiz he hovers on my side of the room since that’s where the cheater sits.

Physical proof, though? No.

And it’s not like the school would DO anything to said athlete even if I had him on tape, so it’s useless. Like I said, I’m not gonna mention it.

Live and learn, right?

11

I agree with Rhum Runner in that punctuality counts in real life, and the consequences of being late (in a career, or Frith forbid in court like the example he cited) can be severe.

However, I was in a similar situation to you way back when I was in school (before web sites or email, BTW). I was late for an important exam with no good excuse…the alarm didn’t go off kind of thing. The professor let me take it late. He didn’t have to, I didn’t have a leg to stand on. He was just a decent human being. So it doesn’t hurt to ask.

I wouldn’t mention the athletes cheating unless he adamantly refuses to let you take the test. At that point you have nothing to lose, I guess.

12

As a former TA, I agree that you should not mention the cheating students. I know that if a student used that as leverage against me for anything, I would perceive it as a veiled threat, and, as long as I had the right to do so, I’d refuse to let him or her push me around and get their way. And this would apply whether or not I’d done anything improper. If I were you, I wouldn’t even mention his reputation or what other students have been allowed to do. That’s all irrelevant.

If you’re a student in good standing (and it sounds like you are) and there are no clearly-outlined, often-repeated rules about test deadlines, then it’s worth a shot to appeal to take the test. Even if you know it’s a longshot it’s worth talking to the prof over-- it shows that despite your mistake, you care about your grades. I personally would have spoken with the prof in person, because when I taught, I felt that the students who made an effort to track me down and talk to me in person were more serious about their work and grades. I was more inclined to bend the rules for those students.

In the future, make it a point to check (and re-check) test and homework deadlines, especially if class business isn’t always conducted in the classroom. If you keep a planner or calendar, use it to note due dates and times.

13

I’d avoid mentioning the athlete situation. The teacher will see that as a threat and probably take a hardline stand against you instead. The bottom line is even if the school administration agrees that the teacher acted wrongly towards other students, that won’t help your case as it is unrelated.

My advice is go to the teacher and explain the situation as you have done. Then ask if you can perform some kind of substitute test for the one you missed.

14

Here’s the email I sent him:

"Dr. X:

I just logged in to take Test #3, thinking we had till midnight to take it, and I see that the deadline was 2!!! Is there any way I can still take it, I honestly did think the deadline was midnight
tonight!!!

–SnoopyFan"

And here’s his reply:

“This is ridiculous. I announced the exam time in class. You could have and should have checked WebCT to find out the deadline. You could have asked me in class or during office hours. You could have asked another student.”
Gee, thanks Dr. X. What a nice and understanding reply.

Even if he was going to say no anyway, there was no need for him to do the “This is ridiculous” line – as if I’m some slacker student who always has an excuse.

15

Should I reply at all? All I would say is “Why would I have discussed the test deadline with you or another student if I didn’t think the deadline was at midnight?”

He probably did mention the deadline last week in class — I don’t remember it but he probably did.

16

Don’t push it - you got your answer, and now, you’ll have to live with it. I sympathize, but sometimes shit happens & you gotta learn from it & let it go.

17

Well, he didn’t say “No”. If you really want to piss him off, ask for clarification.

18

No point in pissing him off. My final grade hasn’t been determined yet. Maybe if I whomp ass on tomorrow morning’s quiz and then Friday’s final, and end up with a borderline B/C, he’ll give me the B.

19

Something like this is a very bad idea. The only possible tactic that would work is being completely apologetic and pleading for a chance, not being confrontation.

20

SnoopyFan, what you need to do is step out of your viewpoint while you plan what to do next. Don’t think about being a student who made a single mistake. Imagine instead you are a teacher who is constantly being bombarded with excuses from students who want a break. You’re trying to teach them, but most of them just zone out in class and never listen. Like SnoopyFan, who didn’t even take the test because she wasn’t listening when I told her what time it was due.

Now with this attitude fixed in your mind, you can compose a request to your teacher. Keep in mind, he’s not going to be as concerned as you are about how this hurts you. From his point of view, you’re getting what you deserve for screwing up. You need to convince him to do you a favor and offer you a second chance.

Now try this:

"Dr. X

I realize that what happened was my own fault and I apologize for my mistake. I have become used to the midnight schedule for turning in my homework assignments and I unconciously forgot you had given us an earlier time for the test.

But I hope you can give me a second chance. I have been working very hard this semester and I have been studying the material. I would like the chance to prove to you that I have been paying attention in class. I am open to any suggestion you have about how I can make up for this test.

If you cannot do this, I will understand and will continue to work hard for the remainder of this class in the hope that my future work will allow my grades to recover form the mistake I made this week. Thank you for your attention.

SnoopyFan"