In my case, I've been going through a severe medication withdrawal the past couple of days due to a lack of communication with my doctor and am significantly behind on a redo of a take home midterm (the first attempt was on time, but due to my apparent inability to understand the original question, the professor gave me the chance to make it up). I'm back on the medication, but found it impossible to concentrate on anything, let alone school work, over the past few days. While I could get documentation of the doctor's appointment I managed to secure today, it wouldn't really prove anything, and I consider this scenario to be my fault and not a legitimate excuse for special treatment, not to mention the fact that it's a relatively long and complicated story.
Nevertheless, should I explain it to my professor? Should I simply say that the midterm is late due to health reasons and leave it at that? Should I make up a random excuse? Or should I offer no excuse whatsoever and simply apologize for the midterm being late, adding that I understand if he believes I deserve less or no credit for the assignment? Which would be the least frustrating for a professor to hear?
Thank you,
Snowflake #7248
I have an absence policy that makes it possible for students to be absent 3 times and still get an A in participation, and I do that so that I don't have to hear all the stories of why they were absent. I just don't read people -- or minds -- well enough to know which ones are true or not. And it just gets to me too much.
ReplyDeleteAnd so, I kind of extend that to assignments, too. If it's late, it's late -- accept the consequences. But I give lots of short assignments, so one penalized grade will not likely harm a student. Your professor may not.
It does sound like you have a legitimate situation, and you sound like a good, honest student, so that weighs in your favor. But don't give any explanation via e-mail if you're at a public school. In my state, e-mails are potentially public records. (No, *really*!)
So I would advise that you e-mail the exam to the prof, apologize very briefly ("I'm very sorry" will do), and say something like this, "There was a serious personal situation somewhat beyond my control that prevented me from finishing this on time. I would like to come talk to you about it, if possible, but if not, I accept the consequences of turning in late work. Thank you." Keep it short and simple.
And definitely *don't* make up something else!
This is my first time commenting here, and I'm not as cranky as some of the regular commenters -- well, the site *is* called College *Misery* -- so they may disagree.
- Dr. Virago
Something to consider: I am MUCH more likely to believe a student when that actually (gasp!) show up to my office and communicate in person. I believe that the threshhold for sending email is too low and there is no substitute for face-time with a professor. Also, I tend to think that 1) email isn't 100% secure and 2) I don't want to put really personal information into written form.
ReplyDeleteMy advide: show up in person and talk to your professor.
Chemistry Rocks is right on this one. I had to "me, too" this because I always take more seriously the student who makes time to meet with me in person.
ReplyDeleteThe email PANIC button is so overused that I rarely consider emailed excuses seriously in any way.
I've been blown off, told off, written off, and pissed off so often by 21st century doctors that if you talked to me in person, I would probably believe you. 21st century medicine sucks ass.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, my students offer me so many stories -- I may be alone in this, but I just want the student to let me know that medical reasons have prevented them from doing X,Y,Z, they are sorry for the interruption, and if we can work together they will be able to catch up fairly soon.
ReplyDeleteThat's all I want. Personally.
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ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm grossly unsympathetic because sadly I've been lied to so many times that I just figure screw it no exceptions. The reason I know they're lies is because of the uniformity of the tales. Tried and true stories that have worked seem plausible enough, and so they've become the go-to tale when you just didn't get your shit done.
ReplyDeleteFor you, Snowflake, who writes in earnest, just take what you get...in the end, once your situation is sorted and things are ticking along again, you'll average out ok overall if this is the one small F that you have to eat. I wish you well...and I also wish that your lying cheating scheming peers didn't ruin it for you, but they have.
If I may add to my previous comment, lest I look like an unsympathetic asshole...I took a couple of zeroes along the way...not many, but a couple for reasons that were beyond my control, and therefore obviously beyond the professor's control. For a decent student, therein lies the power of the average. If your marks are solid enough, a blip on radar isn't going to fuck you up in the grand scheme...why just look at me! I had to swallow a couple of bad grades and now, for whatever reason, I get to be the professor. Wooohoooo, how I have been rewarded.
ReplyDeleteMy preferences are pretty similar to those above: I'm happy to receive an explanation, by email or in office hours; I don't really have a preference. Please don't, however, try to have such a conversation during class, or a minute before (or after) it's supposed to start, especially not while standing directly in front of my desk, blocking my view of the rest of the class and vice versa. After class *might* be a possibility, but please try to avoid situations where my body language indicates that I need to get out of the classroom as quickly as possible (to get to another classroom, to turn the classroom over to someone else, or just to get to the bathroom), or where you're one of six students trying to fit their queries into the 5 minutes (at most) I have available. I'll probably have said something about whether I'm available before and after class, and, if so, for how long, and where, on the first day anyway. If we talk in person, the main thing you want to avoid is giving me the impression that you think the class, attention to any of my other obligations, and possibly the world should stop while I address your situation.
ReplyDeleteAs far as content goes, the explanation, whether emailed or delivered in person, should be as short as possible, and should contain, at the very least: an apology; a clear statement that the student accepts full responsibility for the situation, including any grade consequences; and, if at all possible, some idea of how long the student expects it to take for hir to get back on track. A brief and not-too-detailed explanation ("personal circumstances beyond my control" will do; "having trouble with my medication" works for me, too) is okay, but not absolutely necessary. Offers of documentation are appreciated, but, honestly, I rarely follow through on those. The statement of responsibility is much more important. And questions about how best to catch up -- what assignments should get priority, etc. -- are welcome, and a good way to demonstrate taking responsibility. So, if you've missed more than a week or two of work during a regular term, are queries about drop deadlines, hardship withdrawals, etc. I won't be able to answer all of them, but at least they show you're being realistic about the situation.
I always look like an unsympathetic asshole, and I've made my peace with that.
ReplyDeleteI guess what I'd say overall is that if you aren't expecting to get anything out of it, or bargain for a better grade or more time, don't say anything unless asked.
I have to honestly say that I don't want to be privy to the medical conditions of my students, ever, unless it is required for me to be privy to them, or they need to inform me because they need an extension. If you yourself don't consider it to be a legitimate excuse, don't say anything. Because it's likely that the professor is going to think you are trolling for sympathy.
It sounds horrible but honestly I'm very short on sympathy for the medical conditions of students. I don't want to know what ails them, I really don't. Drug withdrawal, improper medication, bipolar disorder, diabetes, brain damage, etc. I don't care. Don't tell me unless you have a legitimate excuse for which I can grant you a reasonable extension, or you have an accommodations plan. Otherwise, I don't want to know a student's medical troubles any more than I want to know the medical troubles of a person on line at the Kroger. Keep it to yourself.
Again, I'm sure that sounds harsh, but I am nearing fifty, and believe me when I say that I am privy to plenty and more of medical problems--both mine, and that of family and friends. Doctor problems as well. I could tell you stories that would curl your hair about my experience with the medical establishment.
But I won't. You're welcome.
Please do not lie to me. I will know. (I am not new here.)
ReplyDeletePlease, do not tell me your life story in an email. (For all of the reasons listed above.)
Please, if you are prepared to accept the late penalty, just hand in your damn paper without comment. (Related - please do the math on the assignment and realize that a 5% late penalty on an assignment that is worth 20% of your final grade is ultimately 1% of that final grade, and not worth grubbing for or losing sleep over. If you've earned it, I'll make sure you get it in the end, because I am not an asshole. If you haven't you won't, because a) it's probably hopeless anyways and b) you're probably an asshole.)
Please, if you are requesting accommodation, send me a short and polite email explaining there is a significant _____ issue, indicate that you can and will provide appropriate documentation, and make your request - BEFORE THE ASSIGNMENT IS DUE (or, at the very least, in the first moment you regain internet access after the anesthesia wears off). Please, offer to meet with me to discuss any questions or concerns or provide more information if necessary. (If you have a valid note, it will not be.) Please ask for the time you actually need instead of continually re-negotiating extensions, which will just piss me off.
Please, when I tell you that I do not need to know specifics, STOP EXPLAINING. (I may not be able to fight the urge to hum and/or put my fingers in my ears.)
Please, believe me when I say that I am sorry for your loss/situation/ whatever - but do not think me unkind for not wanting to be a player in your drama of the moment. I consider not asking you to perform your grief/illness/incapacity for me one of the greatest kindnesses I can offer.
That said, if you can produce a note that says "Snowflake was unable to complete the assignment on time because of medical issues", then tell me that, or attach it to the assignment with a written offer to meet with me to discuss any questions I might have. If your reasons are legit, then they're legit, and I will not hold them against you.
I'll admit, I more of the softie here. I'm too green, it makes me a sucker.
ReplyDeleteAside from the advice above, are you working with your college health services or counseling services? At the schools I have worked with, those services won't send out excuse letters, but they will send out an email that says "Yes, we are working with student X and this is legit." This can only be done with your permission, so you will need to give it.
I also like these emails because I've had times when students tell me they are getting help and it turns out "help" is talking to their overly stressed roommate or RA and not anyone who is remotely qualified to deal with a medical or mental health crisis. Being the aforementioned softie at a tiny school, I do worry about my students who are clearly running into trouble.
Should I make up a random excuse?
ReplyDelete?!?!?
is that really myra back, or someone paying homage...either way, she was one of the originals.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Cassandra, in that what I want is for you to woman up about the consequences of your missing the work, no matter what the circumstances. I have been known to say to students "don't apologize, take responsibility", and that's really what I want. Also, not weaselly responsibility like "I know your policy says what the late penalty is, and I am willing to take it, but I just want to know if there is some way to avoid the penalty, and I am going to keep asking until you say yes".
ReplyDeleteI don't want to know the details of why you messed up, particularly if your reason is something gross like weeping genital warts. TMI, dude.
I certainly don't want some random lie, unless it's a really good one, like the guy who said his work was late "due to a paranormal experience".
Every time someone says "I will accept the late penalty but I apologize for the inconvenience" or whatever, I write them back and say that the grade penalty is so much less important than the fact that they're clearly a person with character. Patronizing, I suppose, but I'll take that risk to let them know I am aware of these things.
ReplyDeleteWhat Stella said, as usual.
ReplyDelete