Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 11848
Submitted: May 6, 2024 at 6:04:19 PM
First Name: Dylan
Last Name: Stengel
Pronoun: He/Him
Student Number: 20270239
Email: 20dds6@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: POLS
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request a review of instructors' decisions on grading of final examination and/or term work
Code: POLS331
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Petition Category: Request a review of instructors' decisions on grading of final examination and/or term work
Instructor's Name: Fan Lu
Component: Final Exam
Petition Letter
Petition Letter:
Dear Members of the Academic Appeals Committee,
I am writing to formally request a review of my final exam grade for the American Government course, POLS331, taught by Professor Fan Lu. I believe that my final grade reflects a biased evaluation influenced by a semester-long disagreement over political viewpoints rather than the quality of my work.
Throughout the semester, it has become evident that Professor Lu harbours a clear political bias towards the Republican party, which has been prominently reflected in her lectures and educational material. This bias has manifested itself in various ways, from the selection of topics discussed in class to the nature of assignments that inherently required a political stance. For instance, our major assignment, which constituted 40% of our final grade, involved analyzing a Republican presidential debate where I presented a critique based on the rule of law and democratic principles. Despite the thorough analysis and evidence-backed arguments in my work, the grade I received was unexpectedly low, although I initially chose not to contest it, giving my instructor the benefit of the doubt.
The culmination of these experiences was the final exam, consisting of multiple-choice questions and two essays with prompts that inherently demanded a political stance. I adhered to an academic perspective, supporting my arguments with scholarly evidence and critique, particularly critiquing the Republican viewpoint on issues such as the criminality of the January 6th events and comparisons between legal proceedings against Donald Trump and Joe Biden. I believe the 53% grade received starkly contrasts with the quality of my submissions and my semester average of 84%, suggesting a punitive measure rather than an objective academic assessment.
Moreover, this concern is not mine alone but is shared among peers who have also recognized the overt partiality in the teaching material and the classroom discussions. Such an environment has not only skewed the educational content but has also, I fear, influenced the grading system to favour certain political beliefs over others.
Given these circumstances, I respectfully request that my final exam be re-evaluated by an unbiased third party. This step is crucial not only for my academic record but also for upholding the integrity and impartiality expected in academic assessments.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and am hopeful for a resolution that reflects the principles of fairness and academic integrity. Thank you for considering my appeal.
Sincerely,
Dylan Stengel
20270239
Dear Members of the Academic Appeals Committee,
I am writing to formally request a review of my final exam grade for the American Government course, POLS331, taught by Professor Fan Lu. I believe that my final grade reflects a biased evaluation influenced by a semester-long disagreement over political viewpoints rather than the quality of my work.
Throughout the semester, it has become evident that Professor Lu harbours a clear political bias towards the Republican party, which has been prominently reflected in her lectures and educational material. This bias has manifested itself in various ways, from the selection of topics discussed in class to the nature of assignments that inherently required a political stance. For instance, our major assignment, which constituted 40% of our final grade, involved analyzing a Republican presidential debate where I presented a critique based on the rule of law and democratic principles. Despite the thorough analysis and evidence-backed arguments in my work, the grade I received was unexpectedly low, although I initially chose not to contest it, giving my instructor the benefit of the doubt.
The culmination of these experiences was the final exam, consisting of multiple-choice questions and two essays with prompts that inherently demanded a political stance. I adhered to an academic perspective, supporting my arguments with scholarly evidence and critique, particularly critiquing the Republican viewpoint on issues such as the criminality of the January 6th events and comparisons between legal proceedings against Donald Trump and Joe Biden. I believe the 53% grade received starkly contrasts with the quality of my submissions and my semester average of 84%, suggesting a punitive measure rather than an objective academic assessment.
Moreover, this concern is not mine alone but is shared among peers who have also recognized the overt partiality in the teaching material and the classroom discussions. Such an environment has not only skewed the educational content but has also, I fear, influenced the grading system to favour certain political beliefs over others.
Given these circumstances, I respectfully request that my final exam be re-evaluated by an unbiased third party. This step is crucial not only for my academic record but also for upholding the integrity and impartiality expected in academic assessments.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and am hopeful for a resolution that reflects the principles of fairness and academic integrity. Thank you for considering my appeal.
Sincerely,
Dylan Stengel
20270239
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC