Subsection 6.3 Grading and Regrade Requests
One of the objectives of this class is to communicate coherent and accurate mathematical arguments which will demonstrate your reasoning skills. This is done via proofs of theorems and claims. The proof you present (in homeworks, quizzes and exams) must convince the reader the accuracy and correctness of your mathematical argument. At times the proof that you write may seem logical to you, but the reader may not be able to follow your steps of reasoning. To ensure we communicate effectively, you must follow the format, terminology and notation that is established in class.
Your work will be evaluated on the basis of the legibility, clarity and how easy it is to understand the proof you write. There will be times where you believe points have been taken off for a small mistake, but it may be the case that the small mistake is actually a fundamental error in the mathematical argument.
The grade you are given on an exam, a quiz, an assignment, or your final grade, is not the starting point of a negotiation; it is your grade unless a concrete error has been made. Do not come to the teaching team to ask for a better grade because you want one or you feel you deserve it. Unless we have made a mistake in grading your work (i.e., you have a correct answer that was marked wrong, or your score was added incorrectly), your grade is final. Errors can certainly be made in grading, especially when many students are involved. But keep in mind that errors can be made either in your favor or not. So, it is possible that if you ask to have a piece of work re-graded your grade will go down rather than up.
If you believe your work was graded incorrectly, you must reachout to the teaching team during their office hours. Emails or Ed posts regarding these requests will not be entertained.
For quizzes or homework, if a concrete error has been made in your grade, please visit your TA during their office hours to discuss your request. You must talk to your TA within a week of the date the grade became available on Canvas.
For exam grades, regrade requests must be submitted to me during my office hours. Any regrade request must be received by the given deadline. Your request must include an explanation of why your answer was not graded correctly. Complaints not following this format will not be considered, nor will complaints that argue the rubric (see below about which grade discussions are inappropriate).
Note that the following grade discussions are not appropriate:
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“I know my answer was wrong, but I deserve more partial credit points.”When we grade, we make decisions about how many points to give for various kinds of wrong answers. This is never a clear cut decision. The important thing is that we make some decision and then implement it fairly for everyone. It is completely unfair to come back later and give one person more points just because they ask. We won’t do it.
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“I don’t like my final grade. It will ruin me for the following reason: ... Therefore you should give me a better one.”Class grades reflect only one thing: how well you did in the class. Your grade is not a reflection of who you are. Your grades will not ruin your life.
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“I don’t like my final grade. I am desperate. Isn’t there some sort of extra credit thing I could do?”Any answer other than “No” to this question would be completely unfair to other students in the class unless they were all offered this option. That would be equivalent to saying that the semester isn’t over and everyone can keep trying. We’re not going to do this. Final grades are final.
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“I am on the border of the next letter grade. Can you bump me up?”The answer will always be “No”. Regrade requests are not given priority over any current grading, and so a response to your request may be delayed.
