How to talk your way out of a shitty grade?

[Hue]

Sup y'all.

A class I'm in has an attendance policy that deducts x amount of points every time you miss class / are late, so that if you miss 5 times then you get a 0 for the entire year. I have an A in the class, and while calculating my projected grade saw that it drops my grade 5%, down to a B+, which is drastically bullshit.

Persuasion, sales, and seduction go hand in hand. I'm ready to go tooth and nail to get the grade I deserve in this class. Beyond just explaining that I clearly understand the material (hence the A) and have put in the hours outside of class, any suggestions?


Hue

 

[Mr.Rob]

I find in these situations it REALLY helps if you have charming rapport with the teacher in question and they know and like you and want you to succeed. I find if I don't have a good rapport with said authority figure its much harder to convince them to break the rules for you, but still possible.

Its literally as easy as them pushing a button and no one will ever know. Some teachers budge easier than others when it comes to matters of "principle" but all teachers budge easier if you can break them out of logical autopilot and speak to the heart of their emotions and tap into their "I really like Hue and I really want to see him succeed".

My personal strategy is never to confront the teachers about their unfair policies but first charm them (even if I don't like them), tell them about your goals to succeed, tell about your personal plight that made you break the rules, tell them your worried implying it will somehow hurt your future, apologize for breaking their rules, ask if they could make one small exception and how much it'd mean to you if they could help you out. If they first say no try another angle or two, and remain charming/nonconfrontational throughout.

Good luck... oh also there's this to consider if it doesn't go in your favor: https://www.nateliason.com/gpa-vs-skills/

Cheers,
-Rob

 

[Fuck This]

Depends on the teacher.

Is there a makeup option for the attendance? If attendance affects your grade that much then there is a reason the teacher made it a part of the grading matrix. Were I your teacher I'd explain that. Typical for Lab classes, or classes where there is group work during class time.

No loss trying though. Work a Yes ladder with your teacher.

"How has my work been? Is it A work?"
"Have I demonstrated I understand and can apply the knowledge you have taught?"
"Would you say that that should be reflected in the grade?"
"Wouldn't you like the students who performed the work required demonstrated knowledge and demonstrated application of the material to get the highest grade?"

 

[Hue]

Mr. Rob,

I find in these situations it REALLY helps if you have charming rapport with the teacher in question and they know and like you and want you to succeed. I find if I don't have a good rapport with said authority figure its much harder to convince them to break the rules for you, but still possible.

If they first say no try another angle or two, and remain charming/nonconfrontational throughout.

So far I have with her. The set up of the class allows a lot of open communication so I generally have good rapport with the entire class and have gotten into academic discussions with her that exist outside the class during her office hours.

Word, it's important to keep that rapport even though I have to be a little demanding.

Good luck... oh also there's this to consider if it doesn't go in your favor: https://www.nateliason.com/gpa-vs-skills/

I agree with the article, but my career trajectory demands graduate school which is extremely competitive and throws out a lot of low-gpa applications. Though there's other ways to be a competitive agent such as networking and working in the field for a few years.

EDIT: I should note, that because I fucked around a lot during my years in a fraternity, I've barely made the minimum cut-off, so anything but an A- / A for my final semesters would disallow me from even being considered as an applicant for multiple schools I'm considering.


Fuck This,

Depends on the teacher.

Is there a makeup option for the attendance? If attendance affects your grade that much then there is a reason the teacher made it a part of the grading matrix. Were I your teacher I'd explain that. Typical for Lab classes, or classes where there is group work during class time.

No loss trying though. Work a Yes ladder with your teacher.

"How has my work been? Is it A work?"
"Have I demonstrated I understand and can apply the knowledge you have taught?"
"Would you say that that should be reflected in the grade?"
"Wouldn't you like the students who performed the work required demonstrated knowledge and demonstrated application of the material to get the highest grade?"

It does depend on the teacher - and it makes me confused because everything else about this teacher is understanding and chill so idk why she's so pole-in-the-ass about it.

No make up option, and she made it clear in the beginning of the year. I more or less became too busy / forgot how significant of an impact it would be / ... slash said fuck it. And yes it's a group class.

Exactly, it doesn't hurt to try. I didn't think of a yes-ladder haha. Makes it seem a lot more normal in a context outside of women (less technical, more just like explaining the obvious rationality of something).


Thanks guys!