Grading and Regrading of Tests, Disputes of your Record

In the tests, answers must appear in the box at the end of the problem if such box is provided.
This is to avoid later arguments about which of the scribblings represents the intended solution.

In principle only entirely correct answers result in credit.
I do, however, give some partial credit; but I am the judge of how much. The way I apportion partial credit is my prerogative and I will not change it. I will not entertain arguments about it; they merely generate ill will and are a waste of time.

If I make a mistake in grading, though, please let me know and I'll fix it. However you must submit a request for the change of a score within one week of the test or homework in dispute being returned to the class.

In a similar vein: if you know you must have an A (B, C) in the course, shoot for a total of more than 90 (80, 70) points, so if you come up a few points short of your goal you still end up above 90 (80, 70). Don't come to me at the end of the semester saying you are "so close" and would I change my grading scheme. I am neither permitted nor inclined to do that. I will not cook the books, not even for the most charming, needy, or pushy student. Trying to talk me into it is a waste of time.

Occasionally, disputes arise over the record of a student: a homework grade may have gone not recorded, or an erroneous test grade may have been recorded, or you may think this happened. I do want to correct any mistakes of this kind. In order to distiguish claims from facts, I need records, though. So keep all records: graded tests, graded homeworks, graded quizzes, etc. If a graded test, quiz, homework etc. is not returned to you at the same time everyone else's is, complain immediately! Compare your records with the records I will be e-mailing to you occasionally during the semester, and make me aware of any discrepancy immediately.

End of semester problems

Quite frequently students will discover at the end of the semester that they have not acquired quite the numbers of points they need. I then experience an influx of students trying to influence the grade by pleading, arguing, crying, etc.
I will be available to discuss these problems.
In order to cut down on the waste of time, though, I describe here the procedures in detail.

Here are the three things I will change:
1) If I recorded an item wrong in my grade book, I will of course correct that.
2) If I added the numbers on a test wrongly, I will of course correct that.
3) If I gave you less than full credit for a problem you solved correctly, I will of course correct that.

Here is what I will NOT change:
1) I am not permited to change the grading formula, and I will not do it - read the published grading scheme. (It is your responsibility to make the requisite number of points, not mine to cook the books.)
2) I also do not change the apportioning of partial credit; if you want me to regrade a particular problem with the view that I might be persuaded to throw you a few points (that others would not get), think again: I will regrade that problem and either judge it correct (full credit) or incorrect (no (0) points).
If you want me to regrade a test of yours I will do it: I will grade EVERY problem as explained in the previous paragraph and I will make sure that the addition is correct. This results occasionally in a lower test grade, even a lower course grade.















































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