Strategy for discussing misgraded exams


 

Maybe you can imagine that your instructor would think that you were a whiner if you said, "I want more points," or "Oh my God, that's so unfair!" It's better that you present yourself as a student who is interested in the concepts and nothing else.

1. Go to your instructor and say, "I have a question about a concept on the exam. I don't want any more points or anything." Point to the misgraded question and ask, "What concept am I missing here?"

2. If the instructor points out a really minor error, say, "Oh, is that it? I was afraid it was a bigger mistake."

3. When the instructor starts to feel guilty and offers to give you more points, say, "Oh, that's OK. You don't have to."

4. The instructor will probably insist, and then you can surrender saying, "Well, if you insist."



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