Recently, my college English Professor assigned a group research paper. Groups of four were to form and write three pages on how certain historical figures affected events following their rise to power (the possible subjects were part of a list).
So after about four days of consistently meeting and spending about five hours working, my team finished our paper on Saturday, and one team member took our handwritten semi-final draft and promised to type it up so we could turn it in on Monday (TODAY).
This was the last any of us saw him. Each member of our team has frantically been calling him wondering why he wasn't in class this morning.
The professor doesn't believe us (the remaining three) and has accused us of trying to find an easy way to get an extension.
We showed him our rough draft and research notes (what was left of them), and he says we can turn in the paper tomorrow with 10 points taken off.
I do not think this is far because we broke our backs putting in a full effort.
2007-03-05 05:07:11 · 7 answers · asked by Archie 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
-UPDATE-
Just got off the phone with one of my team members.
We're going to see if we hear from our final member by 4:30 pm, if he fails to contact us, we'll meet at 5:00.
The plan is to use what information we do have and re-type our final draft ourselves. Given that we only have a rough draft with tons of notes and scribbles on it, we'll just do our best, at least we have something to work with.
Our goal is to go the extra mile and try to pull of a 90 on the project.
We will of course destroy our fourth team member on sight should we ever run into him.
2007-03-05 05:32:29 · update #1
-FINAL UPDATE-
Two of the remaining team members (myself included) wrote the best darn paper we could...all night long.
We turned it in yesterday and were surprised to hear that the professor will be assigning an extra credit paper (for all teams, mainly those who didn't get as good a grade as they intended). This paper is worth up to 10 points, which will be added to the research paper's grade.
We, the two remaining members did not accredit the missing two, so they're on their own in explaining things...it's just business, it's not like we didn't try to involve them.
Anyway, we have an extra credit paper due Friday, I'd better get back to work.
2007-03-07 01:48:25 · update #2
Honey, I believe you.
But look at it also from the professor's point of view. Your story of a "missing groupmate" is kinda hard to swallow. Nobody disappears just like that. There's four of you in the group --- all your necks are on the line --- why didn't anyone think of checking on this guy (the one who will type) Sunday? If just one of you bothered to check on his progress Sunday, then you wouldn't have been "empty" today (Monday)!
Your prof has been kind enough to give you the one day extension --- he didn't have to but he did. And the 10-point deduction is only fair...be very thankful for that...at least it's not goose eggs for everyone.
Here's a suggestion to offset the deduction: Give your paper another thorough re-hash. Is there something else you can add to make it better? Have you considered all possibilities under the sun? Oh yeah, be sure to proof read the final draft. If it has to be proof read twice (independently!), do it. GOOD LUCK!
There'll be plenty more sob/sad stories in your college life. Think of it as non-textbook lessons to better prepare you for real life crisis.
SMILE.......it's not the end of the world. BTW, I so love reading your question/explanation...you have expressed yourself really well. Bravo!
2007-03-05 05:33:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh gosh. I am so sorry. That's why I always hated doing group work like that in college. It appears as though the rest of you are going to have to get together and do the best that you can with what you have left to work with. Part of the problem is that your prof should have been keeping a closer eye on a project like this by having all students turn it progress reports, intermittently, throughout the course of the project. Since it sounds as though you can't convince this prof, you're stuck with doing it over the best you can. If it were me, I would exhaust all possibilities of trying to find the escape artist, even if it meant calling the campus police to assist you. Good luck, and I'm sorry I come up with anything better.
2007-03-05 05:19:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it is fair either but how does the professor know this is truely the case you know? What I suggest for the future is not to let one person have the entire paper, what I usually do in groups is each person has a section and we email each other our sections and then everyone has the entire paper, and you pick one person to turn it in, but just in case everyone has a copy. That insures that you get your grade and they gets theirs. You don't know if maybe your other classmate had a family emergency, Sh*t happens and you can not blame that person for you getting a lower grade because something might have happened. Now if he was just slacking off and thinks it is funny then that is an entirely different story.
2007-03-05 05:58:22 · answer #3 · answered by Hawaiisweetie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would agree with the apparent unfairness of this, however it will make you make copies of everything in the future. I have been in group projects where we typed it all directly to a computer and gave everyone a copy. I think you could plead your case to the professor again, or if you don't feel satisfied, I would break out the student handbook and look for your course of action- most likely the department head or the dean. Good luck!
2007-03-05 05:13:11 · answer #4 · answered by Mark B 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Professors hear this kind of excuse over and over. If I was him I wouldn't believe you either. And I think you are getting a heck of a deal by only losing 10 points. In my classes I never accepted work late. Period. All of you would have gotten zeros.
I don't think you have a leg to stand on in this case.
2007-03-05 05:15:29 · answer #5 · answered by matt 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think the 3 of you should go together to his home and ask him for the papers. Do it right after school today if possible and the teacher may still be at school when you get the papers. If he isn't home, ask who ever answers the door for the papers, tell them it is urgent and to look in his room for them. Don't call him. Just go over to his house.
2007-03-05 05:14:55 · answer #6 · answered by ruth4526 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think you should be able to strike a deal that is the othe student does not return in a certain amount of time then the 10 points get added back on. I would get your advisor involved.
2007-03-05 05:10:46 · answer #7 · answered by rafdarrow 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋