Petition Letter
Samuel Asenuga
20411789
November 1st, 2024
To the Academic Review Committee,
I am submitting this petition to formally request a re-evaluation of my recent assignment in [Course Name], where I received a failing grade due to issues related to the legibility of my handwriting. I am seeking the Committee’s review and intervention in what I believe to be an unfair assessment, which has negatively impacted my academic standing despite my adherence to the submission guidelines as provided.
For this assignment, I completed my work by hand, carefully photographing each page, and uploaded the images to the course Dropbox as instructed. When I received my grade, I was shocked to find a failing mark. The feedback I received explained that the marker found my handwriting challenging to read and therefore did not evaluate my responses accurately. This response feels unjust for several reasons that I would like the Committee to consider.
Firstly, the rubric and assignment guidelines did not specify that submissions had to be typed or prepared in any particular format. It was not indicated that hand-written submissions would be subject to penalty or dismissal, nor was there any requirement to submit electronically typed answers. Based on these guidelines, I reasonably assumed that any legible submission would be acceptable, including hand-written work. Had I been informed otherwise, I would have adjusted my approach accordingly.
Furthermore, I feel that the marker did not make an adequate effort to assess my work as it was submitted. The marker dismissed entire questions on the grounds of readability, without making an attempt to interpret or seek clarification on my answers. While I acknowledge that handwritten work may be less convenient to read than typed responses, my handwriting is generally legible with minimal effort. This complete dismissal of my answers solely due to their format is, I believe, an unfair practice given the lack of guidelines specifying submission format.
Following the receipt of my grade, I contacted my professor directly, proposing two reasonable solutions to resolve this issue. I requested the opportunity to resubmit my assignment in a typed format or to have another individual review my work to ensure it was assessed fairly. However, I did not receive confirmation that either solution would be implemented. I feel that these options would allow my work to be judged accurately and fairly, without penalizing me for a format choice that was not prohibited.
Additionally, I would like to emphasize that this is the first assignment of the course and carries significant weight toward my final grade. Receiving a failing mark on this assignment has placed undue strain on my academic progress in this course, especially given that I made an earnest effort to meet the expectations of the assignment. I believe that a re-evaluation or resubmission opportunity would address the issue equitably, ensuring my grade reflects my understanding and effort rather than an arbitrary penalization for format.
I respectfully ask the Committee to consider this petition for a re-evaluation or an opportunity for resubmission. I am confident that, if given a fair assessment, my work will demonstrate my understanding of the course material. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Samuel Asenuga
20411789
November 1st, 2024
To the Academic Review Committee,
I am submitting this petition to formally request a re-evaluation of my recent assignment in [Course Name], where I received a failing grade due to issues related to the legibility of my handwriting. I am seeking the Committee’s review and intervention in what I believe to be an unfair assessment, which has negatively impacted my academic standing despite my adherence to the submission guidelines as provided.
For this assignment, I completed my work by hand, carefully photographing each page, and uploaded the images to the course Dropbox as instructed. When I received my grade, I was shocked to find a failing mark. The feedback I received explained that the marker found my handwriting challenging to read and therefore did not evaluate my responses accurately. This response feels unjust for several reasons that I would like the Committee to consider.
Firstly, the rubric and assignment guidelines did not specify that submissions had to be typed or prepared in any particular format. It was not indicated that hand-written submissions would be subject to penalty or dismissal, nor was there any requirement to submit electronically typed answers. Based on these guidelines, I reasonably assumed that any legible submission would be acceptable, including hand-written work. Had I been informed otherwise, I would have adjusted my approach accordingly.
Furthermore, I feel that the marker did not make an adequate effort to assess my work as it was submitted. The marker dismissed entire questions on the grounds of readability, without making an attempt to interpret or seek clarification on my answers. While I acknowledge that handwritten work may be less convenient to read than typed responses, my handwriting is generally legible with minimal effort. This complete dismissal of my answers solely due to their format is, I believe, an unfair practice given the lack of guidelines specifying submission format.
Following the receipt of my grade, I contacted my professor directly, proposing two reasonable solutions to resolve this issue. I requested the opportunity to resubmit my assignment in a typed format or to have another individual review my work to ensure it was assessed fairly. However, I did not receive confirmation that either solution would be implemented. I feel that these options would allow my work to be judged accurately and fairly, without penalizing me for a format choice that was not prohibited.
Additionally, I would like to emphasize that this is the first assignment of the course and carries significant weight toward my final grade. Receiving a failing mark on this assignment has placed undue strain on my academic progress in this course, especially given that I made an earnest effort to meet the expectations of the assignment. I believe that a re-evaluation or resubmission opportunity would address the issue equitably, ensuring my grade reflects my understanding and effort rather than an arbitrary penalization for format.
I respectfully ask the Committee to consider this petition for a re-evaluation or an opportunity for resubmission. I am confident that, if given a fair assessment, my work will demonstrate my understanding of the course material. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Samuel Asenuga