How would you handle this instructor?

SurfDoctor · Jun 23, 2010

potpourri said: ↑

As far as I know a grade of 95 and 100 would be mostly considered an A at most colleges and universities.

An A- is usually anything from 90-92 (generally speaking). I wasn't trying to be sarcastic to the poster, but I treated it like a commentary because I was trying to point out all sides of the coin.

The student has every right to do what they feel is right. But, in my opinion is if this is over 5 points and it results in the same grade of A what difference does it really make at the end of the day? The grade is still an A and no one is going to know whether it was a 95 or 100. It is treated the same.

I'm also not trying to put any stereotypes out there, but a long time ago I remember when a grade of C was considered average and acceptable. In other words, most average students got C's and B's. Now it is if a student doesn't get an A, and that isn't good enough anymore it has to be that they pretty much have to get a 100 on everything or else their life is going to come to an end.

I'm not saying that this is necessarily the case with this student. But, obviously the student is no expert when it comes to APA format entirely. Yes, they have good intentions on following the rules and all, and hopefully they can learn something from this. I would advise the student to consult with another instructor and deal with the actual issue, show their paper and see what another instructor has to say before just coming to the front of saying that the instructor is incorrect.

And, this is precisely why many colleges and universities will have more than one instructor review a paper is over these kinds of issues. One instructor could find fault with a particular part, while another may not find any issues at all. They then take and have a discussion about the paper and incorporate both assessments so that they can come up with a more objective conclusion.

We also need to keep in mind that essays, research papers, and those kinds of matters are more subjective than objective. This tends to lead to some differences of opinion and so forth. I think that the student needs to find out exactly what it is and go from there. But, I would get the opinion of another instructor or someone at the college or university that is an expert or at least competent in APA rules interpretation.

The student obviously doesn't want to give up on this and is intended on keeping it going. So I was merely stating that they should at least make it worthwhile and see who actually wins the battle! (Give me my five points or be fired!).
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I believe it was the difference between a 92.5 and a 97.5 for the class. 92.5 is an A-. At least that's the way I understood it from the Allie, the OP. I wouldn't bother fighting it myself because I don't care that much; I have enough other battles to fight on other fronts. An A- would be fine for me, but not everyone has the same values.

SurfDoctor · Jun 23, 2010

Allie, I thought you might be interested to know that I just got a 17 page paper back from my mentor with a grade of a 94. You want to know what cost me points? Where I placed a table I used in the paper, she thought it should have appeared earlier. Cost me 6 points! Will you go after my professor for me too? I'm too tired to fight. Just kidding, I'm sure I got a fair grade.

potpourri · Jun 23, 2010

I think that this needs to continue. Anyone out there that doesn't get a 100% on their papers can post here to let us know that you're disappointed with your grade. How could it possibly be that an instructor would have the courage to give any student lower than a 100?

I really can't wait to see who wins this fight. The game of give me my five points or be fired! I hope the person is planning to still fight the battle.

Maniac Craniac · Jun 23, 2010

Arg!!! Why can't I ever get to 5 pages of replies?????

b4cz28 · Jun 23, 2010

No crap, I just saw that.

eilla05 · Jun 24, 2010

potpourri said: ↑

My hope is that this instructor will fight tooth and nail to not award the 5 points and that you will continue to argue your point on this whole cause. It's what makes it so entertaining and hopefully it will continue to drag and drag and drag.

Hopefully you will take this to the dean and to others in administration so that it can be determined what to do about those five points. In other words, even if you got a 95 which is an A, or 100, which is an A (it still isn't the same thing to you). In all reality it is the same actual grade, and at the end of the day who is going to know the difference of whether you got a 95 or 100? It is in your mind that it bothers you, and is keeping you up at night -- I need those 5 points! Otherwise, life is going to come to an end, and you aren't an expert at APA, but still feel the need to challenge an instructor on an issue where you get an A (whether 95 or 100).

I would only tell you make the 5 points worthwhile. Since you aren't going to let this die, take it to the next level. Of course, keep sending this instructor more e-mails and letting them know that you know what you're talking about and that this is really worth 5 points. In making this worthwhile, hopefully you can get this instructor fired from their position or something. In other words, it should be give me my five points or else I will see about getting you fired.

Another food for thought. I'm sure there are people here that will tell you that students and professors have differences of opinion all the time, but ultimately I would say since you're going to be getting the same grade of an A, and who cares about whether it's a 95 or 100 -- it's the same grade and same GPA. It would be different if this were a situation where it was going to be an entirely different grade.

There are people who go to undergraduate and graduate school that come across instructors that they differ with. It happens all the time. I'm sure that some here who have been students have disagreed with some of the grades that their instructors gave them. However, in most cases, what was more important is to get done with the class and to untilimately get the grand prize a degree. Let me ask you, if it came down to you fighting for a grade and it was lower than what you were expecting, but you were able to get done, and get a degree -- what is more important a grade or a degree?

The other thing to remember is go ahead and take this up with administration, and hopefully you will win. But, if you don't you may face this instructor again at some point and is it really worth losing 5 points when it comes out to an A (whether 95 or 100)?

But, since you aren't going to drop this and are so worried about the five points -- at least make it worthwhile and make it "Give me my five points back or be fired." Just one thing -- if you do take it to the administration and they come back and agree with the instructor, please have the courage to at least let us know. I'm interested in now finding out who is going to win this battle!
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I pretty much stopped reading your post after the second paragraph but might I add that those 5 points could be the difference between my OVERALL grade being an A or a B so thank you because they are important and it could change my GPA. If you want this topic to die down don't respond because when you respond, since I started this thread I respond kinda weird huh...

Maniac Craniac · Jun 24, 2010

What's your professor's IP address? I will permanently ban her. I can do that, you know.

eilla05 · Jun 24, 2010

Maniac Craniac said: ↑

Arg!!! Why can't I ever get to 5 pages of replies?????
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If it makes you feel any better I did not expect such an uproar

I am glad that I got to see all sides of the situation though.. Ill try to remember to post a lot on your threads and brush up on my APA oh and ask every instructor from this point on how they interpret APA and if their way trumps APA

And and for the record:

1. I am not trying to get this instructor fired (I am really unsure where that came from)

2. The 5 points could be the difference between an A in the class or a B in the class which could affect my GPA.

3. I do not expect to get a 100% on all of my papers if I think they are correct in every way, but if I earn the grade I want it.

4. What I do expect is for an instructor to admit when they are have made mistakes as we all do it and to me at least it does not make you look bad if you say my bad I was wrong, it will probably make me respect you even more because you do not act like your on some high horse because you are the instructor.

5. It is possible that some of the APA points could have been deducted because of the table but it does not matter because the table with copied/cited/quoted exactly and reference given the problem is that the instructor said the table was not APA and basically implied APA does not apply to non-APA sources even though I was writing in APA. I have yet to figure out if this is true I plan to ask my next instructors!

6. Last but not least I am amazed at how upset some of you got over a question about a grade... noted for the future

Thank you again to all of you who have responded. I would love to update everyone but some of you might have a heart attack at the outcome

b4cz28 · Jun 24, 2010

See look everyone he has turned evil!

SurfDoctor · Jun 24, 2010

b4cz28 said: ↑

See look everyone he has turned evil!
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Ehh, he always was.

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