Petition Letter
My name is Aidan Schiffmann, I am a third-year political studies major at Queen’s University. I would like to submit a petition to drop the class POLS 359: Issues in Political Theory. This course is graded based on an essay which is worth 50% of the overall grade and an examination which is worth 50% of the overall grade.
The essay was due on November 6, 2023 which was well after the time allowed to drop a course. On November 20, 2023, we received our graded essays. Unfortunately, in spite of my best efforts I received a low grade. I am not able to improve the grade received on my essay and even if I do particularly well on the final examination I will end up with a low mark in the course overall.
It is my hope to pursue postgraduate studies following the completion of my Bachelor of Arts. One of the most important factors in securing admission to a postgraduate program is my grade point average (GPA). I have worked very hard in my three years at Queen’s University to earn a GPA that will be as competitive as possible in applying for postgraduate programs. My current GPA is approximately 3.6. Receiving a low grade in POLS 359: Issues in Political Theory will have a very negative effect on my GPA and undo all my hard work over the past three years of study.
Given the way in which this course is graded and the fact that I did not receive the essay grade until well after the October 30, 2023 deadline to drop a course it was impossible for me to be in a position to judge my performance in the course and make an educated decision about dropping the course prior to the deadline to drop a course. In the circumstances, I feel that this is unfair and puts me at an unfair advantage in respect of my GPA. I respectfully ask that I be permitted to drop POLS 359: Issues in Political Theory and have a drop entered on my transcript. I am not asking that any of the fees paid in relation to the course be returned.
The essay was due on November 6, 2023 which was well after the time allowed to drop a course. On November 20, 2023, we received our graded essays. Unfortunately, in spite of my best efforts I received a low grade. I am not able to improve the grade received on my essay and even if I do particularly well on the final examination I will end up with a low mark in the course overall.
It is my hope to pursue postgraduate studies following the completion of my Bachelor of Arts. One of the most important factors in securing admission to a postgraduate program is my grade point average (GPA). I have worked very hard in my three years at Queen’s University to earn a GPA that will be as competitive as possible in applying for postgraduate programs. My current GPA is approximately 3.6. Receiving a low grade in POLS 359: Issues in Political Theory will have a very negative effect on my GPA and undo all my hard work over the past three years of study.
Given the way in which this course is graded and the fact that I did not receive the essay grade until well after the October 30, 2023 deadline to drop a course it was impossible for me to be in a position to judge my performance in the course and make an educated decision about dropping the course prior to the deadline to drop a course. In the circumstances, I feel that this is unfair and puts me at an unfair advantage in respect of my GPA. I respectfully ask that I be permitted to drop POLS 359: Issues in Political Theory and have a drop entered on my transcript. I am not asking that any of the fees paid in relation to the course be returned.