Author Archives: drsageavery

This final installment, concerning Things the Professor Cannot Actually Say regarding The Dreaded Grade series is a doozy. Forget about the grade. Not only have I never declared this to a student, I have never even said it to my own daughter. It kinda goes against every fiber of my being, which I am loatheContinue reading “Forget About the Grade”

I dearly wish that I could say that, in all my years of teaching, I have never encountered plagiarism. Sadly, that is not the case. Rather, I have seen everything from whole cloth submission of published academic articles to more sophisticated efforts to utilize quotes without proper attribution, and on down the line to ratherContinue reading “Integrity Matters”

After the end of one academic term, I had a student write to me, complaining about his final grade. In the email, he accused me of all manner of capricious and downright nefarious grading practices. I confess that I was taken aback, not only by the vehemence of his note, but with his utter inabilityContinue reading “Take Responsibility”

Yes, you read that right. In this installment of The Dreaded Grade series, I am encouraging you to embrace the idea, and the reality, of making mistakes. Some of you are freaking out right now, as you read these words, which are anathema for high achievers, I know! Still… embrace your missteps. You may asContinue reading “Embrace Mistakes”

For some of you, this may be undeniably true. I have had students plead for a different grade than what their work product merited, because they were beholden to a variety of expectations. Scholarships sometimes require the maintenance of a certain GPA. As does athletic eligibility. Grades may also be of import when petitioning forContinue reading “But I Need a Good Grade!”

Truly. It’s not about you. Your product earns the grade, not you. This fifth installment of The Dreaded Grade series makes this significant distinction for two reasons. First, it might allow you to notice that the grade that your work is designated is also ideally not about me, the professor. Eschewing the old cliché thatContinue reading “It’s Not About You”

If you are not satisfied with your grade, instead of railing against the Universe or your professor, consider approaching your instructor and asking them how you might have earned a different grade on that particular assignment. Seek to understand what a successful iteration, or trial effort, would look like in that context. If for someContinue reading “Focus On How to Improve”

With respect to The Dreaded Grade, this feedback is a heart-breaker for me. A number of students over the years have shared with me that they believed that they deserved a better grade for a deeper reason than mere vanity or a sense of entitlement. This post, then, carefully strikes at the heart of aContinue reading “But I Worked Hard on That…”

“I deserve a better grade.“ As a professor, I have heard this exact line before. Perhaps you’ve felt like that before… and maybe a few of you have even ventured to express that feeling. From the other side of the grading divide, I am going to let you in on an important secret to navigatingContinue reading “I Deserve a Better Grade”

Indignant Student: Do you really think that is worth three points off my grade on my paper? Professor (In head): Obviously I do, because that is the grade I gave you; and unfortunately for you, dude, you don’t get to be the judge… Professor (Out loud): I would be happy to sit down and goContinue reading “The Dreaded Grade”