Cannot focus on studying...what to do? (Talk about a grade with a professor?) Forum

[1sataker]

Hi,
I'm sorry if this is not the right place to ask this question but...
I cannot concentrate on study on LSAT these days thinking about a grade I got.
I did all my best and spent the most time in this class, but the professor gave me a grade which I think I do not deserve...
I believe I did more work than any other students in the class, and whenever I asked about how I was doing in the class, the professor just told me I'm fine etc etc and did not really gave me any advice and when I asked about the grade I got she says that grade and this grade do not have a big difference etc etc...and she never ever graded on our paper or presentation so we had no idea how we were doing in the class.
How can I talk with her about changing the grade if it is possible?
I just cannot accept this nor understand it...I asked about it through email(because she is on vacation), but she said she does not have intention to change the grade.
But when I asked at least I want an explanation, she did not give me anything.
I am going to meet her this semester and hopefully I can talk with her about changing the grade but...how should I talk with her? Do you have any advice?
This is my first time to do this thing so not sure...and since I already kind of explained a lot by email, I'm afraid she feels annoying.
This class was not a required one, so now I regret taking it a lot...if I had not taken it I could have taken a different class (which I was more interested in actually...) and I could have studied for LSAT maybe.
I know it is nonsense to think about those stuff but even I try not to think about it, I cannot help&cannot focus on studying...
When you have something in your head that you do not want to think about it, how do you deal with it?

Thank you,

[A. Nony Mouse]

Feel free to talk to the professor when she comes back, but I would couch it as "I would like to understand why I got this grade so I can do better in future" rather than "I want you to change the grade." It may be that as you go through the discussion, it will be clear that there was an error, and she should change it. But if you go in assuming the grade is wrong, the professor will probably feel defensive and the atmosphere will be antagonistic, and it will be harder to get anywhere.

While it's very unfortunate that you had no idea how you were doing in the class as you went along, keep in mind that this doesn't mean the grade is wrong. The professor's idea of doing fine and your idea of doing fine may not be the same. She should be able to tell you at this point what your grades on the paper/presentation were, even if you weren't given those grades during the semester.

I also highly recommend not talking about how hard you worked or that you worked more than the other students. Grades are not awarded for effort, but results. If you spent 6 weeks on a paper and another person spent 6 hours, but they produced a better paper, they would get a better grade.

Good luck.

[1sataker]

Feel free to talk to the professor when she comes back, but I would couch it as "I would like to understand why I got this grade so I can do better in future" rather than "I want you to change the grade." It may be that as you go through the discussion, it will be clear that there was an error, and she should change it. But if you go in assuming the grade is wrong, the professor will probably feel defensive and the atmosphere will be antagonistic, and it will be harder to get anywhere.

While it's very unfortunate that you had no idea how you were doing in the class as you went along, keep in mind that this doesn't mean the grade is wrong. The professor's idea of doing fine and your idea of doing fine may not be the same. She should be able to tell you at this point what your grades on the paper/presentation were, even if you weren't given those grades during the semester.

I also highly recommend not talking about how hard you worked or that you worked more than the other students. Grades are not awarded for effort, but results. If you spent 6 weeks on a paper and another person spent 6 hours, but they produced a better paper, they would get a better grade.

Good luck.

Hi, thanks for the advice.
What if I already implied I want to change the grade in the email? Maybe I should not have sent her email...
If I cannot change her mind, there is nothing I can do anymore?
I feel how she grades is really unfair...

[UnicornHunter]

I feel how she grades is really unfair...

Good, you'll be prepared for law school then.

[1sataker]

I feel how she grades is really unfair...

Good, you'll be prepared for law school then.

You mean, grading in law school is unfair?