Not Grading Fairly?

freximus · Apr 26, 2011

This is a passive aggressive tactic I heard once, and it's pretty clever if you think about it.

1st. Prepare your case. Have on-hand several papers that have received A grades with you for evidence. Also, bring a couple of extra copies of your paper, with notes and highlighting that tell how you organized your thoughts, the paper structure, and works cited. Be able to talk about your paper whilst comparing it to your previous 'A' work.

2nd. Schedule an appointment with your instructor. Psychologically it is very difficult to be mean to someone when you are face to face.

3rd. Literally go through every aspect of the paper, from grammar all the way down to transitional sentences. Frequently link back to papers where you were scored higher.

4th. Take your time. If you are being rushed by the instructor, then tell them you will reschedule. Don't allow the instructor to shuffle you out of the room. Be polite, respectful, but very firm. Your goal is to understand why THIS paper, which is very similar to MANY other A papers, received a lower grade.

5th. Keep reiterating this point. Your goal is to understand why THIS paper, which is very similar to MANY other A papers, received a lower grade.

6th. Use words like, "Help me to understand why, .....", and "I'm not sure why this (phrase, word, transition, etc.) is incorrect, would you explain to me why?"

7th. This is not, nor ever will it be an argument. You are simply trying to understand. Keep this tone throughout the entire interview.

You will (typically) find that the instructor will be much more reluctant to give you a poor grade as the class progresses.

Screen name · Apr 27, 2011

Excellent advice! I will definitely use this plan - especially the ways listed to ask "why".

I have made an appointment with her - the issue I already see if that her 'earliest' is within one week of graduation. This was our final, final paper...

I have already spent quite a few hours researching and making notations next to hers explaining my thoughts. I will prepare past papers and highlight more information that is similar between them all.

freximus · Apr 30, 2011

I'd like to know how it turned out. Good news?

Screen name · May 2, 2011

Meeting tomorrow. I will let you know what happens!

Qtip · May 6, 2011

Freximus gave you some great advice. I would definitely argue it in some form or another. When i got my BS I was fairly naive and lackadaisical, somehow I managed to make friends with the most motivated pre-med students. What I learned from them? Argue every grade you get that's not an A.

Your post also brought me back to highschool chemistry class. I had a teacher that would give out two different tests to prevent cheating. Problem was the tests had completely different questions. One test would have a high of 82% and 60% average while the other a high score of 98% and average of 85%. I tried to use this proof to explain to her why she can't give out two completely different tests, she never understood it. As you can see I'm still angry about it, lol.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · May 6, 2011

This really has nothing to do with thinking males in class are graded differently - just throwing that out there.
The problem I'm having is that it seems if your final paper was graded by one teacher you got anywhere from 5-10 points lower than if you were graded by another teacher.
Teacher B has consistently been lower than Teacher A (meaning none of Teacher B's students have made higher than Teacher A's).
There are exceptions to every rule. Of course some of Teacher A's students slacked off and made lower than more studious Teacher B's students.
Do you think it's reasonable to ask that Teacher A re-grade my paper to compare the two? Suck it up and move on? I've gotten more A's than B's in nursing school, but this grade has put making an A in the class just out of reach...
We have had this issue in the past as well. Two students even turned in the same exact paper last semester - they were graded by different teachers. One student made a 'low A', the other a 'high C'. Of course, this put everyone in a peculiar spot. While the students were wrong about what they did it also raised some interesting questions within the class about grading consistency.

If no one in your class was getting an A...I would say you have a point.

But if SOMEONE is getting an A, then that person has learned to master a skill and I would find out who that person is and find out what they are doing differently.

I would also ask the instructor to rank you with your classmates...see where you fall in the big picture....that will also tell you where you stand.

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · May 6, 2011

first, papers are subjective not objective. if you present your paper to five different instructors, expect five different grades. since you mentioned that the instructor gives the entire class lower grades, no particular person is being picked upon. some instructors focus more on content while others feel the grammar is more important. some will actually take the time out to read your paper and provide feedback whereas some will simply skim your paper and award full credit.

“you will (typically) find that the instructor will be much more reluctant to give you a poor grade as the class progresses.”

i don’t believe that. any good instructor will stand her ground. i do agree with meeting the instructor to find out what she/he is looking for in a paper. this will shed light onto what is most important to that instructor.

remember…you will get further by being proactive and not reactive. in other words, the next paper you write, spend more time on it and use all of the instructors suggestions. she will notice you took her comments to heart. that, i think, will earn you a higher grade.

freximus · May 6, 2011

i don't believe that. any good instructor will stand her ground. i do agree with meeting the instructor to find out what she/he is looking for in a paper. this will shed light onto what is most important to that instructor.
remember...you will get further by being proactive and not reactive. in other words, the next paper you write, spend more time on it and use all of the instructors suggestions. she will notice you took her comments to heart. that, i think, will earn you a higher grade.

this was my intention, although i didn't state it as well as you did.

also, the wear-out factor will make a difference with not-good instructors.

Qtip · May 8, 2011

Seems like some of these replies missed the point, or I misunderstood the OP. If two teachers are splitting up the papers and one teacher grades harsher than the other, it is not fair. If they switch which students they grade every other paper then it would be fair. But if it's random it most certainly is not.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · May 8, 2011

The problem is having two teachers grade on very subjective work.

One teacher needs to grade ALL the papers. The students should collectively speak up.