Your teachers are not handing out grades willy-nilly; they are evaluating your work based on how well it fulfills the expectations they’ve set out for your class. Otherwise, a professor that is more on-top of their emails should reply within two days or by the next class. Make sure to stick to a formal tone and avoid emojis or informal abbreviations like FYI or ASAP. This is an optional inclusion to show that you respect your professor for his time and his willingness to help. Thank them for helping you throughout the semester. Her goal is to give readers stories they can see, feel, listen to and love. 8. the professor is taking too long to reply, he hasn’t had time to answer your questions in class, his office hours have been mixed all week – send a follow-up email. Get to the point and make the ask, share the info, or give the update. Make sure to meet those expectations next time! As promised in my last post How to Find a Career Mentor, I have provided the email template on how to ask someone to be your mentor. A while back, I recommended that students get to know their professors. It may seem like a polite thing to say, “How are you?” or “I hope you are having a nice day.” And it is. Professors get this kind of request all the time. Make your case for the higher grade. A student may request a grade bump to boost up a grade point average but the way the students ask the professor determines if the grade would be increased or not. If your grade is 89.22 percent, don't ask the professor to consider a bump to 90 percent in order to maintain your GPA. I received a partial grade for the written part, but my professor has yet to update the grade to reflect my presentation. Then, ask the professor to reevaluate your work in light of this new information. If your inquiry is made in a respectful manner, most instructors welcome the opportunity to review your grades with you to determine if an error occurred. Every professor responds differently, depending on how often they check their emails, how many emails they have, etc., so expect a delay in response time. Ask your teacher how the assignment was graded if a rubric was not made explicit to you. Professors generally will look favorably upon students who are putting a concerted effort into their course and doing their best to … Ask for extra credit as well. This is a sample grade change request letter to a professor as a first attempt to have a grade in a class changed. If you’re unsatisfied with your grade on a recent assignment or exam, here is a template that will help you ask your professor on how to improve or if there are any extra credit options. Emailing your professor can seem a lot less daunting than meeting the professor in person. Even if your teacher is singling you out, using the language of "fairness" or talking about what you "deserve" is not going to get you anywhere with your regrading negotiations. Tutoring! Luckily for you, we have some helpful tips from students that have been in the same situation as you. Either you’ve convinced the teacher that you earned a different grade, or the teacher has convinced you that you did not. Read more. This may also produce some eyerolling, because TAs and professors are very, very used to grade-grubbers at the end of the semester. Second, via email. This could be about anything: a misunderstood grade, you missed a class and need the notes (in this case, the professor likely will tell you to email a classmate), a need for an explanation of the essay rubric, or maybe you would like him to revise your thesis statement. Ask nicely if they can raise your grade a point or two. If you approached your teacher with respect, your teacher will most likely come away having learned about your intellectual and emotional maturity, too. Explain what you did to study for the final. What’s the reason for your email? First, see if the professor has a website, as they may well post syllabi publicly. Also, you are more likely to come across as interested in learning, rather than being a grade grubber just whining to get extra points.) It could be that you were one of his best students that he'd recommend above most others (one student on another post reported being the "best student" in a class where he got the highest grade, 90%). Do not bullshit about why you failed so bad, just lay it on the line and ask if there is anything you can do. Ask your teacher how the assignment was graded if a rubric was not made explicit to you. This is more of an “Emailing your Professor 101” kind of story. It’s all about common courtesy and common sense. Professors put their name, email, office hours, telephone number, etc., on their syllabus for the very reason of making it more convenient for students to reach out to them. You might also ask if there’s a possibility to rewrite or retake a test or an assignment, now that you have a better idea of how grading works. The grade for assignment “Research Highlights” reads that I received a 15 out of 25. Ask politely and never make demands. To get a teacher to raise your grade, start by asking for tips on how you can improve your grade. You all ready want her to change your grade, before you get an explanation. Discussing your grade doesn't have to be difficult as long as you're patient and polite. If I can do anything to change this grade, please let me know. Just ask to privately talk to them. 11 Items Anyone With Hokie Spirit NEEDS To Have, 5 Things You’ll Only Understand If You Live In DaSilva At SJU, 10 Things You NEED to Know Before Coming to Kent, 20 Hacks To Make Your Life Easier At Kent State University, 10 Things Every Kent State Girl Needs In Her Purse, 50 Lifesaving Tips For Freshmen At Kent State, 5 Awesome Tips For Organizing Your Closet. This might make the professor more willing to help you directly if he knows you have been trying to solve the problem on your own. How do I ask my professor for syllabus early? If the Chair believes that new grade have to be assigned, then Chair will request the Professor to change the Grade. ”, Set your student up for success this semester with "T.E.A.M. Frame the meeting as a discussion, not a set of accusations. This lets your professor know, “Hey, I’m not spamming you.”, Unless stated otherwise on the syllabus, stay safe with how you address your professor by using “Dear Professor…” or simply, “Dear Prof.”. Funny. Mistakes are made; just go ask for a grade breakdown and bring your papers. This is especially so when students need something — a favor, special help with an assignment, a second chance on a test. In your shoes, I would schedule a meeting with the professor to find out how he feels about your work, and about recommending you. Or, maybe you’ll realize it doesn’t deserve a second look. ", COVID-19 Resources for High Schoolers & Parents, Webinar Replay: Finding Structure in the New Year, School Reports: What They Are and Why They Matter. (Yes, READ IT.) You’ll be calmer and more able to analyze your teacher’s comments, and in the end, you’ll make a better argument for why your work deserves a second look. Keep reading for tips on how to politely ask your professor to change your grade, and good luck! This is more of an “Emailing your Professor 101” kind of story. Dear Dr. /Ms. As a university-level instructor for several years, I want to offer you some perspective and some advice on what to do in this situation. I submitted the written part on time, but I delivered the presentation about a week late. In many cases, you can clear up a misunderstanding over your grade by asking the professor to explain their comments in more detail. But this is not always the case. “Things with Josh have been great - he is amazing. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! I am emailing you because I am having difficulty understanding the grade posted on Blackboard earlier today. Then, I would be polite, explain that you want to get a head start on the reading, and ask if the online syllabus is a good starting point (if they have one online) and/or if they have a current or recent syllabus or book list. If agrees, then the student should get a revised Grade. If the professor likes you, saw you in office hours (this can really help your grade!! Does he or she offer any partial credit? Her focus is in magazine journalism with the ultimate dream of becoming a traveling journalist. When you meet your teacher, bring your original assignment and your annotated copy with you. You have the option of mentioning how you have already tried to solve the problem. Hello, I am a sophomore in your class, ENG 21011 – College Writing II. Consider what grading rubric the teacher is using. I had an assignment that is graded based on a written essay and a presentation. Tips on Writing Letter to Professor about Changing Grades. Tutoring! (Yes, READ IT.) Be polite, and never place blame on your professor or his class. If worse comes to worst – i.e. Frame the meeting as a discussion, not a set of accusations. Before you start blaming your teacher, take a look at your work! Requesting for a grade bump can be a daunting task for a student and it has to be carefully thought before going through with it. Find & rate your … Is he or she looking for a specific type of response or writing (usually made clear in the instructions for the assignment or test)? As with the previous section, the following examples are structured in an email format, but you can use the same script to ask a professor to be a reference in-person. professor's office hours or make an appointment where you can sit down together and review your work. Don’t ambush him or her right before class starts. Need expert help getting the grade you want? Your grade is your responsibility, but your professor could cut you some slack depending on how dedicated you have proven yourself to be in his class. At this point I wouldn't ask about the early essays at all, but focus on the final exam and participation grades. Fun Begins – Professor can choose to agree or disagree. Sometimes it just depends on the type of professor. If you think you might be on the borderline, work hard before the end of the semester and discuss extra credit possibilities ahead of time. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I do not feel this reflects my ability to perform in your class, as I am sure I met all of the assignment’s requirements. For example, you could ask "Can you tell me what I should focus on most of all?" No matter the outcome, thank the teacher for his or her time in explaining your grade to you. If the professor is not willing to change the grade, the student has the option of sending another letter to an appeal board. State what score you needed and what score you earned. Kathryn Monsewicz is a journalism major at Kent State University. Then, go through your annotations one by one, and ask for clarification if necessary. Invite the teacher’s perception of the bad grade, ask her to suggest reasons for the grade and, if necessary, request a time to meet to discuss your … Then, go through your annotations one by one, and ask for clarification if necessary. After all, we are adults here in college. published in Parents, High School, Students, College, Subject Tutoring, Learn about the school report, its role in the college application process, and how admissions officers use the school report in college admissions. Mr./Mrs./Professor/Dean/Greetings/To Whom It May Concern: [ Please use the proper salutation when sending emails.] Avoid fluffy language and extensive vocabulary. Signet Education is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and subscribes to the Statement of Principles of Good Practice. SUBJECT: College Writing II – Issue with Grading. Never apportion blame to the professor. The professor is either just as or busier than the student. College is hard. Let’s review. Read more, Being prepared to thrive in college is about more than just academics. If the grade was given by a teaching assistant, that person should be included in the appeal. Then the professor can show you exactly where in the assignment you fell short. Don’t feel you have to fight every remark; pick your battles and stick to discussing clear instances where you have a case. The only way to improve your grade is by contacting your professor. Try an academic consultant through Signet Education. Katie finished the year with an 89! Ask the professor to clarify their comments. 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