What do you do about a professor who's always right, even when he isn't?

Question

Like, for example, even if you show evidence of a certain thing, he argues that it is not so?

For example, a professor in a writing class who insists that everything you write is wrong, even when it's practically his own words.

Just incidentally, this is an online university.

Answer 1

You've described law school and most philosophy professors.

If it doesn't pertain to your grade or learning about a subject you need, don't waste your breath fighting it.

Answer 2

In the best-case scenario, you should be able to ask for detailed guidance. Especially if you are doing the course online, he will reply to you in writing (e-mail). If he marks you wrong after that, send him back a copy of his e-mail and ask (VERY politely) how you mis-interpreted it. However, there is also the possibility of a worst-case scenario.

I don't know your situation exactly but, as a teacher myself, I think there is a possibility that you may be taking your teacher's comments out of context. For instance, if he taught to write an argumentative essay and you wrote a descriptive one instead, even using his own words, he would mark it wrong. In regard to your evidence, bear in mind that your evidence MAY in fact be wrong or limited. But, if in fact you are right and he is wrong, you have very few options, really. You can take the matter to the Dean and call your teacher on the issue. Or, you can drop the class if you really believe he is totally unfair only to you and that there is nothing you can do about it.

Answer 3

I would set up a meeting to talk to the professor in his office and ask him to explain why he says what you are writing is wrong. Make sure you aren't being confrontational, or else he'll get defensive and you won't get anywhere. You could say something along the lines of "I don't understand why you marked this paragraph as wrong. I thought I was doing it the way you explained in class, so what exactly did I do wrong?" or "I don't really understand what you said in class about paragraph structure. I thought I did exactly what you talked about in class, but you still marked it wrong on my paper."

If you still think he is wrong, you could take the problem to the department chair, but if he's a good professor then the meeting with him should be enough.