Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: In my appeal letter I am requesting a review of an instructor¿¿s decision on a grading of a final examination and/or term work. I took Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 221) last semester and I found the course very interesting, however I worked extremely hard and did not recieve the grades I believed that I deserve. The course was a pass or fail in the exam for the class meaning I had to pass the exam to pass the class and somehow I did not pass the exam even after hours and hours of extensive studying. I do not have any extenuating circumstances, I am a very hard working student and I have the grades to prove it. Last semester all of my grades were in the A level range, it was one of my best. When I found out my grade for this class my heart sank and I became very frustrated because I worked my hardest and somehow failed. In the beginning of the course I was doing well. I got A¿¿s on all quizzes and my discussion posts improved with time. Whenever I asked for help in class and asked for feedback on how I could improve, the professor said he agreed with my grade and failed to teach my ways on how to improve my work. I had several peers in the class who also felt it was the most unfair grading they had ever received, some barely passing the exam. I have never tested well on exams, it is just not how my brain functions the best, being asked to remember everything I have learned over the course of 12 weeks is a very difficult thing to ask. I do much better when I am tested on things spread out and where I can explain my learning. Hence why I love major and why I succeed, but I wanted to take this course as an elective because I thought it was interesting. It clearly did not work out the way I hoped. I wish to have my grade reviewed because it is not a reflection of how hard I worked and nor is it a reflection of my usual grades. As soon as I found out the news, which was later than expected because I was away with no wifi over the holidays, I emailed my professor and asked him to review my other grades and if there was anyway he could bump me up because it shows that I had a 49 overall, only one percent being the difference between passing and failing the course. I got an appointment with an advisor as soon as possible to see what my next best option and I am here writing this letter now amongst my very busy school week.

In the summer I am very busy with work, and I was planning to take one course so that my load would be easier for my fourth and final year, but I am now one credit behind and would have to take a course to make up for the F on my transcript. I believe that I deserve to at least pass the class because it is one I worked extremely hard on and it is one small percentage that is keeping me from moving along the path that I have strategically mapped out for myself.

I have attached screenshots of some of my grades and I attached my notes for one of the sections so you can see how extensive they are. I would attach my exam notes but the file is way to large.