Strange Scenario Forum

[bport hopeful]

This is sort of a weird situation, and I may come off greedy, but I dont mean to be.

Got my torts grade back. It was way way lower than I thought it should be. It was three short answer questions (less than 100 words) that were super simple. Im sure most people got close to full credit. It also had 25 multiple choice, that were mostly easy. The last five questions were about ADR which my prof barely talked about if at all. This prof has a history of getting people upset with her tests, because of strange wordings and such. At least two of her MC questions did not have right answers available for them. I am quite sure of this. Many people asked to talk to her about the test, so there was a wait. I never got an opportunity to do so. Today I got an email saying that there was a miscalculation in the grades and that some peoples had been bumped (mine being one of them; one spot ie. B->B+) but that people who would have suffered from this miscalculation would not be penalized.

Since there were so few questions on the test, I am thinking of asking to get my grade bumped more. My rationale is that there are people with the same grade as me that got that question wrong (but marker correctly) that should be below me, bumping me further up the curve. I also want to make sure that the questions that messed up questions I knew about were the ones addressed. I know this seems picky, but I want the grade I deserved, and Im on scholly and didnt do great this semester.

Does this make sense? I dont want to go in and look like an ass, which I admit in this situation, is totally possible.

[bport hopeful]

Clarification: There was one question that had a typo in it where she thought the answer was D, but the best answer was B. The other was fucking stupid, she thought the answer was C, the best answer was B. Its hard to explain I guess.

The one I remember was "What must P prove to show that D committed an intentional infliction of emotional distress."
A.) That D intentionally inflicted emotional distress
B.) That D recklessly inflicted emotional distress
C.) Both A and B
D.) Neither A and B

People got credit for C and and the best answer is B. C is absolutely not correct.


They also told us that the miscalculation didnt apply for everyone which makes me think they only awarded points for one of the two answers (This is obviously not necessarily the case, and I wouldnt go in guns blazing).

[Extension_Cord]

That question was a freebie, don't worry noone picked C. If they did they did much worse than you on the test anyways and it wont effect your grade.

[Tom Joad]

Sue LSAC

[bport hopeful]

That question was a freebie, don't worry noone picked C. If they did they did much worse than you on the test anyways and it wont effect your grade.

Freebie, how so?

[Extension_Cord]

That question was a freebie, don't worry noone picked C. If they did they did much worse than you on the test anyways and it wont effect your grade.

Freebie, how so?

Freebie in that everyone in your class got it correct. Its a really easy question and its a subject we covered in 15 minutes in passing and I still remember it 2 months after studying for my torts final. Everyone in your class studied their ass off, that question is not a curve setter.

[bport hopeful]

That question was a freebie, don't worry noone picked C. If they did they did much worse than you on the test anyways and it wont effect your grade.

Freebie, how so?

Freebie in that everyone in your class got it correct. Its a really easy question and its a subject we covered in 15 minutes in passing and I still remember it 2 months after studying for my torts final. Everyone in your class studied their ass off, that question is not a curve setter.

I wish people could see this test. I over studied by about 30 hours. That was one of the more difficult questions. With the exception of maybe one other question, I think I only got the ADR questions wrong. Thats why Im concerned. I feel that the difference between an A- and a B are negligible.

[Extension_Cord]

That question was a freebie, don't worry noone picked C. If they did they did much worse than you on the test anyways and it wont effect your grade.

Freebie, how so?

Freebie in that everyone in your class got it correct. Its a really easy question and its a subject we covered in 15 minutes in passing and I still remember it 2 months after studying for my torts final. Everyone in your class studied their ass off, that question is not a curve setter.

I wish people could see this test. I over studied by about 30 hours. That was one of the more difficult questions. With the exception of maybe one other question, I think I only got the ADR questions wrong. Thats why Im concerned. I feel that the difference between an A- and a B are negligible.

That makes sense, you probably did really well, but the problem is, so did your sectionmates.

Hate (law school) curves.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Take the B+ and run. This is how the curve works.

[bport hopeful]

Take the B+ and run. This is how the curve works.

I didnt necessarily get a B+ and this is not how curves work.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Take the B+ and run. This is how the curve works.

I didnt necessarily get a B+ and this is not how curves work.

Can you explain the bolded then:

Since there were so few questions on the test, I am thinking of asking to get my grade bumped more. My rationale is that there are people with the same grade as me that got that question wrong (but marker correctly) that should be below me, bumping me further up the curve. I also want to make sure that the questions that messed up questions I knew about were the ones addressed. I know this seems picky, but I want the grade I deserved, and Im on scholly and didnt do great this semester.

Because maybe there's something I'm missing, but to me it sounds as though your professor is already bumping up your grade to address exactly the issue that you're concerned about. (I.e., people initially were higher than you on the curve due to giving the incorrectly credited answer, but your grade is being raised so that you are not penalized for this effect.) What am I missing?

I do think it's valid for you to meet with her and go over your exam. That will give you an opportunity to see if the mistakes that affected you have been fixed. However, if they have been, I simply don't see how you are entitled to have your grade raised any more.

[Asleep]

The argument he is making is not only should he get bumped up by adding the points for the correct answer, but people who actually got the question wrong (but incorrectly got credit for it) should not get credit for those points when calculating the curve, potentially providing an additional grade bump. Since those other people were lower, he might deserve a higher grade by passing some of them in points. It makes sense.

One issue here is that the professor may have already taken this into account. Even if she did not, you have a curve that the professor is bound by, which means she could probably only give you the spot you would have had without the error by actually bumping down someone elses grade who she incorrectly gave credit for the answer. Even if it was true that someone would have had a lower grade than you if they did not incorrectly get credit for the right answer (which is not guaranteed), I think it is really unlikely that she is going to bump anyone down at this point.

Bottom line: It sucks. It might have impacted your grade; it might not have. But I doubt anything you say or do will change anything and might leave a negative impression with the professor.

[johansantana21]

Sounds like you just got unlucky with a lazy or careless professor. Doubt you can do much about it.

[AVBucks4239]

This late in the game, there is no way the administration can lower other people's grades. I'm sure a lot of people have sent out resumes, cover letters, and unofficial transcripts with their GPAs plastered all over them. Having grades lowered would present those students and the administration with a logistical nightmare.

Second, and more importantly, other students above you may already be disappointed with where they placed on the curve. If their grade were to be lowered by such a strange technicality, they would probably rape and pillage the entire dean's office.

There isn't much you or the administration can do. Save your time and energy for something you can actually control (i.e. improving this semester).

[romothesavior]

This late in the game, there is no way the administration can lower other people's grades. I'm sure a lot of people have sent out resumes, cover letters, and unofficial transcripts with their GPAs plastered all over them. Having grades lowered would present those students and the administration with a logistical nightmare.

Second, and more importantly, other students above you may already be disappointed with where they placed on the curve. If their grade were to be lowered by such a strange technicality, they would probably rape and pillage the entire dean's office.

There isn't much you or the administration can do. Save your time and energy for something you can actually control (i.e. improving this semester).

I agree with this.

[bport hopeful]

I dont care if they bump people down or not. My school doesnt give out standing or anything so it doesnt matter. I just dont want to have to worry about the GPA stip on my scholly. The curve is already fucked up, so I dont know that its impossible for them to fuck it a little harder.

That being said, I doubt theyll do anything either.

[wildhaggis]

Sounds like you just got unlucky with a lazy or careless professor. Doubt you can do much about it.

TITCR

[thexfactor]

If you dont' have this professor again, I don't think it hurts to ask. Also, you can try talking to the dean about it. If both of them tell you they cant do anything, then you are out of luck. Might as well ask.

[bport hopeful]

If you dont' have this professor again, I don't think it hurts to ask. Also, you can try talking to the dean about it. If both of them tell you they cant do anything, then you are out of luck. Might as well ask.

This is what I figure, but I thought Id run it through. Make sure my rationale makes sense and that it doesnt seem too outlandish.

[I.P. Daly]

Maybe your professor gave people credit for choosing the wrong answer on that question because he/she felt bad about how poorly he/she taught the class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quv1HUgpf-E

[bport hopeful]

Maybe your professor gave people credit for choosing the wrong answer on that question because he/she felt bad about how poorly he/she taught the class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quv1HUgpf-E

Does there need to be a right answer for there to be a wrong answer?

[AVBucks4239]

Maybe your professor gave people credit for choosing the wrong answer on that question because he/she felt bad about how poorly he/she taught the class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quv1HUgpf-E

That is my torts professor. He is probably the most intimidating professor I've ever had, but he's an absolute God.