Hayao
twosocks
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Should I write my professor?

So short story - Today is the last day of class for this semester. I got a 93 on my work for the class, but a 68 on class participation. That made my final grade a 75. Also, it's a lecture class.

I feel as if this isn't fair. I'm a very introverted person and I did participate by doing the work, paying attention and taking notes.

I don't know. I just feel as if this isn't very fair to me because I know I worked hard. It seems very bias to extroverted people. Should I email my professor about it? Or go to the Dean? Or just suck it up because "C's get degrees?"

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twosocks edited this post .

Should I write my professor? Go to the Dean?¬ ¬ Or should I let this slide?¬ ¬ So short story - Today is the last day of class for this semester. Final grades get reported by Next monday. My teacher handed me a grade sheet today during our last class - I got a 93 on my work for the class, but a 68 on class participation. That made my final grade a *75*. Also, it's a *lecture class*.¬ ¬ Even though the quality of my work was a *93*, I got a *75* because I didn't participate enough. Also, the class is a lecture class. We didn't have group work or discussion groups or open discussions. My professor read from a word document all semester long. ¬ ¬ I feel as if this isn't fair. I'm a very introverted person and I *did* participate by doing the work, paying attention and taking notes. Sometimes I just don't have anything to add to the lecture. And I don't feel as if you should even be having conversations during a lecture. You should be listening. ¬ ¬ I don't know. I just feel as if this isn't very fair to me because I know I worked hard. It seems very bias to extroverted people. Should I email my professor about it? Or go to the Dean? Or just suck it up because "C's get degrees?"¬ ¬ (Also, I don't think the C will hurt me in the future)

twosocks edited this post .

Should I write my professor? Go to the Dean?¬ ¬ Or should I let this slide?¬ ¬ So short story - Today is the last day of class for this semester. I got a 93 on my work for the class, but a 68 on class participation. That made my final grade a *75*. Also, it's a *lecture class*.¬ ¬ I feel as if this isn't fair. I'm a very introverted person and I *did* participate by doing the work, paying attention and taking notes. Sometimes I just don't have anything to add to the lecture. And I don't feel as if you should even be having conversations during a lecture. You should be listening. ¬ ¬ I don't know. I just feel as if this isn't very fair to me because I know I worked hard. It seems very bias to extroverted people. Should I email my professor about it? Or go to the Dean? Or just suck it up because "C's get degrees?"¬ ¬ (Also, I don't think the C will hurt me in the future)?"

Hayao
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Thanks helpbot, but it's not quite that serious.

Dr. ralph club zps9ornptsl
(43 minutes after post)
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Classroom participation is 50% of the grade in a lecture class? That seems odd to say the least. What was the subject matter? If it was public speaking maybe it makes more sense. E-mail the professor, what have you got to lose?

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Hayao
(51 minutes after post)
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The class is Professional Practices. It's a senior level class where you learn to curate exhibitions, price your artwork, learn the in's and out's of galleries and being a professional artist. Not exactly public speaking. Kinda like marketing.

Dr. ralph club zps9ornptsl
(53 minutes after post)
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How many people in the class and just how much did you hide in the back row? 68 seems really low. :(

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Hayao
(55 minutes after post)
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It was a class of almost forty students. It was a fairly big class! And I did sit in the back 😅 but only because I needed to sit by the plug for my computer to follow along with the professor! She sent us all of her lecture notes via word docs. To be honest, only the same two or three people spoke out all semester. The rest of the class just listened, which is what I thought I was suppose to do in a lecture!

Dr. ralph club zps9ornptsl
(1 hour after post)
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That's what I was thinking. I would pose that exact same question to the prof.

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1581744157174 1581744149313 miss bot
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It won't change your grade but it might be wise to start a dialog going between both of you.

Electric
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Showing up is part of keeping in step with the class program. As you stated, it's Professional Practices at the senior level.... Is there a correspondence alternative to this class? If not...the grade is what it is.
You can talk to your professor but I wouldn't have too great an expectation.

Animation2 2
(3 hours after post)
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What did the syllabus say about class participation? If it specifically mentioned participation being worth such a high percentage, then you are stuck. If it said a lower percentage, or implied something along the lines of...."there will be some class discussions that you will be expected to participate in...." with no caveat for NOT participating, then you might have a case.

One time, I was getting a 98 in a class going into the final, and I asked the prof how bad my grade could be on the final to retain the A. Prof got furious with me....lol

Also, I have learned that the more you kiss up to the prof (asking questions, showing how much you ADORE their course and their point of view, and their ideas, etc..... your grade will always "tip" if it's on the line between two. It will also "tip" down if the opposite is true.

Once I flunked a test. I really, really should NOT have flunked, but the test answers were pretty interpretive/subjective, so I realized the prof just "didn't really like me." I made sure to ask her questions, bring ideas into the classroom, stay after and talk to her, etc. Next tests were all "A's." It sucks, but often they have egos and like to hear themselves talk; and feel as if they are smarter than you...academia is a pedestal for them...and you have to play the game.

But think about it this way if it seems unfair (and it IS unfair): You have to learn to "play the game" in so many of life's situations, so it's good practice 😊

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Max
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(5 hours after post)
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Yes, you must stand up for yourself and carbon copy the Dean. Just try and be direct, polite and firm:)

Helpcomanimatedyetiwithdot256
(8 hours after post)
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Was the class work you've mentioned graded or otherwise reviewed, with feedback? 68 solely for "participation" seems incredibly arbitrary.
Most of my professors were all too happy to convey their material without learning a single student's name, let alone comprehension. At best, they'd rephrase a certain class' tangent to an exam question to check for attention.
Grades are more than just a pass / fail for a prospective employer. More likely than not to ask the overall grade, and some may request to see a breakdown for the specifically relevant courses. 'fcourse, others shall opt to test your skills, mayhap even the majority (in arts).
Regardless, you shouldn't suffer in silence, the divergence is clear and calls for inquiry. I know your introversion makes you hesitate, but bravery grows out of necessity. It's easier if you believe there is no choice, because the alternative just mucks up everything you treasure.

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Dr. ralph club zps9ornptsl
(10 hours after post)
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Pepper J nailed it. Kissing the profs butt will be good practice for what you will have to do to the patrons of your artwork. Life pretty much is all about scratching people's back so they'll scratch yours.

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Sherlock by olga tereshenko d9qdidc
(10 hours after post)
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You have learned a very valuable lesson in marketing. The two or three people who were always talking undoubtedly got very high marks. In ANY professional situation, you want to stand out in a positive way. You don't have to be the biggest standout, but you need to be visible. There's a name for people who work hard but never "blow their own horn." That word is "chumps."

You might ask the professor the best way to participate in a lecture format, which is admittedly a difficult thing to do. Lecture is the least desirable format for a class, but it is what 95 percent of university classes are about.

But always make sure the professor knows who you are. Ask some intelligent questions from time to time. Try not to sit in the back row--the profs believe that the least serious students sit there--really. Try to sit in one of the first two rows.

And, as Docteur Ralph says, you have to "talk up" your artwork. It's as much about blather as it is about brush strokes or stone chiseling.

Hayao
(21 hours after post)
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PepperJ wrote:
What did the syllabus say about class participation? If it specifically mentioned participation being worth such a high percentage, then you are stuck. If it said a lower percentage, or implied something along the lines of...."there will be some class discussions that you will be expected to participate in...." with no caveat for NOT participating, then you might have a case.

One time, I was getting a 98 in a class going into the final, and I asked the prof how bad my grade could be on the final to retain the A. Prof got furious with me....lol

Also, I have learned that the more you kiss up to the prof (asking questions, showing how much you ADORE their course and their point of view, and their ideas, etc..... your grade will always "tip" if it's on the line between two. It will also "tip" down if the opposite is true.

Once I flunked a test. I really, really should NOT have flunked, but the test answers were pretty interpretive/subjective, so I realized the prof just "didn't really like me." I made sure to ask her questions, bring ideas into the classroom, stay after and talk to her, etc. Next tests were all "A's." It sucks, but often they have egos and like to hear themselves talk; and feel as if they are smarter than you...academia is a pedestal for them...and you have to play the game.

But think about it this way if it seems unfair (and it IS unfair): You have to learn to "play the game" in so many of life's situations, so it's good practice 😊

I totally agree about the kissing ***ass part...it can definitely make or break your grade. And I'll have to recheck the syllabus because I don't remember it saying anything about participation, but I may be wrong. Thank you! That's a good point.

Hayao
(21 hours after post)
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Sherlock wrote:
You have learned a very valuable lesson in marketing. The two or three people who were always talking undoubtedly got very high marks. In ANY professional situation, you want to stand out in a positive way. You don't have to be the biggest standout, but you need to be visible. There's a name for people who work hard but never "blow their own horn." That word is "chumps."

You might ask the professor the best way to participate in a lecture format, which is admittedly a difficult thing to do. Lecture is the least desirable format for a class, but it is what 95 percent of university classes are about.

But always make sure the professor knows who you are. Ask some intelligent questions from time to time. Try not to sit in the back row--the profs believe that the least serious students sit there--really. Try to sit in one of the first two rows.

And, as Docteur Ralph says, you have to "talk up" your artwork. It's as much about blather as it is about brush strokes or stone chiseling.

I totally agree that this is how the world works. But I'm so against blowing your own horn! I think self-proclaimed people are a*******. Pardon my language. But I think being humble shows way more character.

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Max
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It's a life lesson where the Prof.is only giving half a lunch. My niece went through this and it nearly costed her a career!
Go get your mark changed...anyway you can. Tell them that's all you can think about and you must have it changed before you can go on!

Screenshot 20201225 201925 google
(3 days after post)
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You may as well raise the issue, they can only say no.

That does seem pretty unfair.

Sherlock by olga tereshenko d9qdidc
(3 days after post)
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twosocks wrote:

Sherlock wrote:
You have learned a very valuable lesson in marketing. The two or three people who were always talking undoubtedly got very high marks. In ANY professional situation, you want to stand out in a positive way. You don't have to be the biggest standout, but need to be visible. There's a name for people who work hard but never "blow their own horn." That word is "chumps."

You might ask the professor the best way to participate in a lecture format, which is admittedly a difficult thing to do. Lecture is the least desirable format for a class, but it is what 95 percent of university classes are about.

But always make sure the professor knows who you are. Ask some intelligent questions from time to time. Try not to sit in the back row--the profs believe that the least serious students sit there--really. Try to sit in one of the first two rows.

And, as Docteur Ralph says, you have to "talk up" your artwork. It's as much about blather as it is about brush strokes or stone chiseling.

I totally agree that this is how the world works. But I'm so against blowing your own horn! I think self-proclaimed people are a*******. Pardon my language. But I think being humble shows way more character.

Self-effacing humility doesn't get you very far in life, sad to say. Neither does hubris. You need to find that happy medium, the "sweet spot," between the two. There's absolutely nothing wrong with pointing out your achievements to others--just as long as you don't overdo it. But you have to "talk up" what you're doing in order to stay on people's radar screens--especially the people who decide who gets promoted, retained, downsized or outsourced. I wish it were different--but it's the way it is. So get in there and blow your own horn--even just a little bit!

Dr. ralph club zps9ornptsl
(3 days after post)
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I was thinking exactly what Sherlock just said. Being of good character doesn't pay the bills. I know it's great to be able to look in the mirror and love what you see, but everyone kind of has to do what is necessary to succeed. Blow your horn!

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Max
last online: 07/27, 11:05
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(2 weeks after post)
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How did it end up?

Sherlock by olga tereshenko d9qdidc
(2 weeks after post)
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I just watched, "The Greatest Showman," which was about the life of P. T. Barnum.

The movie itself was great--but historically it was "humbug." There were fictional characters, and it didn't really delve into Barnum's darker side, such as exploiting a poor black woman--claiming that she was 161 years old and had been George Washington's nurse--and even charging people to view her autopsy. Slavery was technically illegal in New York, but he "leased" her.

This is not to say that Barnum didn't do some good. He was a philanthropist and even served as the mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He brought "the Swedish nightingale," Jenny Lind, to America, and she made $350,000 on the tour (equal to $10 million today), the vast majority of which she donated to charity.

And Lind and Barnum never had an affair.

However, some 14 weeks after his first wife, Charity, died, he married Nancy Fish in a secret ceremony in England. The marriage certificate was not discovered until 1994. He and Fish had a public ceremony 10 months after the death of his first wife.

In any event, P. T. Barnum was someone who definitely knew how to promote himself!

Hayao
(2 weeks after post)
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Max2 wrote:
How did it end up?

I didn't email her in time and the grades were posted as was. I got 3 A's, a B, and a C. The C came from this particular class. I should have emailed her about it to protest the grade but I got cold feet.

Sherlock by olga tereshenko d9qdidc
(2 weeks after post)
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twosocks wrote:

Max2 wrote:
How did it end up?

I didn't email her in time and the grades were posted as was. I got 3 A's, a B, and a C. The C came from this particular class. I should have emailed her about it to protest the grade but I got cold feet.

You didn't do badly!

And next semester you can shoot for a higher GPA!

Hayao
(2 weeks after post)
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Thanks :) Next semester is actually my last, and I'm only taking three classes! So I better make all A's!

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Max
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(2 weeks after post)
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You did very well! I'm sure you'll do well in your last term:)

1581744157174 1581744149313 miss bot
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(2 weeks after post)
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Curious, what did you get the B in twosocks?

Hayao
(2 weeks after post)
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soco wrote:
Curious, what did you get the B in twosocks?

The class is called Topics in Visual Art Studies, but the topic was Ethics. It was the most interesting class I took that semester for sure.

Hayao
(2 weeks after post)
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Max2 wrote:
You did very well! I'm sure you'll do well in your last term:)

Thank you, I hope so! I have a bad case of needing-to-be-done-already...
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