[Fun2Care]

I need to know what the majority of you would do in this situation:

We are given bonus questions on our Microbiology tests. There are six question, and we can choose any two to answer. 2 are worth 1 point, 2 are worth 2 points, and 2 are worth 3 points each, and of course, get more difficult with the increasing point range. Also important to mention is the fact that my instructor gives partial credit to all written answers, and if VERY nice on the amount of partial credit she gives. (thank goodness!)

Anyway, we had one question that was the following:
"(3 pts) Put the following in order of resistance to chemical biocides: bacterial spores, fungi spores, enveloped viruses, G+, G-, Mycobacteria:"

Ok, I know I got mixed up on the G+ and G-... actually realized that once I got to my truck after taking the test.....(OH DANG IT!) lol

Anyway, I put: bacterial spores, Mycobacteria, G+, fungi spores, G-, enveloped bacteria.

Like I said, I know the G+ and G- is backwards, and another thing is that I accidently "didn't pick up my pencil" and it looks like I wrote "fungispores" instead of "fungi spores".

Out of 3 points, I got 0.6 points. I was going to do 2 three point questions, but my mind went blank on the second question. I erased it all, and answered a 2 point question AFTER the 3 point question. I'm wondering if the instructor thought it was a 1 point question, and gave me 0.6 out of 1 because I missed the G+ and G- portion. ALSO....she has the "fungispores" X'ed out.

How many of you would question the grading on this because it is a bonus question? I want to, but I also realize she doesn't HAVE to give us bonus questions at all. I don't want to ruin it for everyone just to gain a couple of points.

Thanks for your input!!

[r_janice]

I wouldnt say anything at all. Like you said she generous with her grading to begin with, and she doesnt HAVE to give bonuses. Something similar to this happened last week in my A&PI class: We ahd taken a test and the professor is very kind and gives the class a 8pt curve. Well, while reviewing the test we realize one of the questions he marked wrong on EVERYBODY'S paper was actually correct. So we went ahead and complained. Basically, his response was "Either I take back the 8pt and give you the 0.8pt for the one question, or you suck it up and keep the extra pts." Our test are worth 100pt and have 85 questions.

Well actually maybe you could ask her if she marked the fungi spores as incorrect because it looked like 1 word. But make sure you ASK and dont seem like your......ummm.....whats a good word.........I guess I could use well I duont know what Im trying to say. Just ask in a nice way like I was just wondering why this was marked wrong. And leave it at that.

But again this is just my opinion.

[Fun2Care]

Thanks for your opinion. I know with my A&P 1 class, he gave a curve & gave instructions on how to argue a question....wording, marked wrong on accident, multiple correct answers, etc. He never said anything about deducting the curve, unless I wanted to argue a question. (I set the curves on 4 out of 6 tests.) So, I never did....either way I would get a hundred.

As for this, I am torn apart on what to do. I realize you won't ever get anything in life, unless you ask. On the other hand, I don't want to be a greedy point grabber. lol

Originally Posted by r_janice

I wouldnt say anything at all. Like you said she generous with her grading to begin with, and she doesnt HAVE to give bonuses. Something similar to this happened last week in my A&PI class: We ahd taken a test and the professor is very kind and gives the class a 8pt curve. Well, while reviewing the test we realize one of the questions he marked wrong on EVERYBODY'S paper was actually correct. So we went ahead and complained. Basically, his response was "Either I take back the 8pt and give you the 0.8pt for the one question, or you suck it up and keep the extra pts." Our test are worth 100pt and have 85 questions.

Well actually maybe you could ask her if she marked the fungi spores as incorrect because it looked like 1 word. But make sure you ASK and dont seem like your......ummm.....whats a good word.........I guess I could use well I duont know what Im trying to say. Just ask in a nice way like I was just wondering why this was marked wrong. And leave it at that.

But again this is just my opinion.

[magz80]

Fun, I agree with Janice. The same thing has happened to me in the past and it makes me mental..lol. Can't stand losing out on that extra point! Anyway, how about this. Approach the teacher and just say something like " I noticed I was maked off on this question...could you tell me what the correct answer is so I won't make this mistake on the next test?" Maybe then she'll see that you were correct and give you the points. Worth a shot huh? Good luck!

[r_janice]

[Fun2Care]

Thanks to both of you. I guess I wouldn't care too much, but in the end what if those lil' bit of points helps make a C and B or a B an A?

(I'd really want it if it meant a D or a C.)

I don't think I will need the points to up a letter grade, but you never know what will happen after a final exam is taken!

Anyway, thanks again.

[foxfire65]

Originally Posted by Fun2Care

I need to know what the majority of you would do in this situation:

We are given bonus questions on our Microbiology tests. There are six question, and we can choose any two to answer. 2 are worth 1 point, 2 are worth 2 points, and 2 are worth 3 points each, and of course, get more difficult with the increasing point range. Also important to mention is the fact that my instructor gives partial credit to all written answers, and if VERY nice on the amount of partial credit she gives. (thank goodness!)

Anyway, we had one question that was the following:
"(3 pts) Put the following in order of resistance to chemical biocides: bacterial spores, fungi spores, enveloped viruses, G+, G-, Mycobacteria:"

Ok, I know I got mixed up on the G+ and G-... actually realized that once I got to my truck after taking the test.....(OH DANG IT!) lol

Anyway, I put: bacterial spores, Mycobacteria, G+, fungi spores, G-, enveloped bacteria.

Like I said, I know the G+ and G- is backwards, and another thing is that I accidently "didn't pick up my pencil" and it looks like I wrote "fungispores" instead of "fungi spores".

Out of 3 points, I got 0.6 points. I was going to do 2 three point questions, but my mind went blank on the second question. I erased it all, and answered a 2 point question AFTER the 3 point question. I'm wondering if the instructor thought it was a 1 point question, and gave me 0.6 out of 1 because I missed the G+ and G- portion. ALSO....she has the "fungispores" X'ed out.

How many of you would question the grading on this because it is a bonus question? I want to, but I also realize she doesn't HAVE to give us bonus questions at all. I don't want to ruin it for everyone just to gain a couple of points.

Thanks for your input!!

Spores are the hardest to destroy. I would have put fungi spores as second to Bacteria spores.

[r_janice]

Im just wishing you the best of luck with class. I took Micro last semester (spring '05) and it was rough. I guess since I wasnt really interested in the material it made it ten times harder but nonetheless I passed.

Much luck to you, not that it sounds like you need any!

[Fun2Care]

Thanks r_janice, I appreciate it.

foxfire65....Bacterial spores are the hardest, but Mycobacteria is harder to kill than fungi spores...I think because of its waxy cell wall.

OK.....I did ask the instructor about this question, starting with, "I realize this is a bonus question...." As soon as I said that she said, no, that's ok, what's the go ahead and ask. (or something like that lol

ANYWAY....she realized that she only gave me 0.6 points on a 3 point question, and said, "What did I do, I didn't give you any points." lol She gave me 1.5 points instead of 0.6. She said I could actually argue the fact that the fungi spores was in the right place, and only the G+ and G- were out of place. I didn't want to press my luck, and of course I am very gracious on her changing the grade at all. She changed it in her grade book right then as well.

So, instead of 42.1/50, I have an even 43....every point counts!

Thank again for all the opinions. I didn't want to sound like a whiney butt. LOL

Originally Posted by r_janice

Im just wishing you the best of luck with class. I took Micro last semester (spring '05) and it was rough. I guess since I wasnt really interested in the material it made it ten times harder but nonetheless I passed.

Much luck to you, not that it sounds like you need any!

[r_janice]

Well Im glad it worked out to your benefit!!