Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (studies),
I am requesting a change in mark breakdown for my marks in GEOL 200 (Oceanography) due to an unclear and inaccurate syllabus of the course.
The given syllabus divides the mark breakdown with a midterm exam worth 40 of the final mark and the final exam worth 60 of the final mark. Yet, the mark breakdown failed to include two online quizzes worth 10 each, thus changing the actual mark breakdown in the following way: quiz 1 worth 10, midterm exam worth 30, quiz 2 worth 10, and the final exam worth 50. Had I known that the first quiz was weighted towards my mark in the class, I would have completed the quiz. Additionally, I would have completed the lab regardless of the weighting, but due to a sudden loss of a friend, I chose to attend his funeral rather than write a formative quiz. I believe that since the provided syllabus failed to give an accurate mark breakdown and the first quiz which I was lead to believe was not worth any marks was actually weighted, the weighting of the first quiz should be put, in my particular case, to zero percent and that quiz 2 should be weighted to 20. I believe this to be fair only because I was misinformed of the mark breakdown given the official breakdown on the official syllabus and the circumstances under which I did not complete the first quiz. Additionally, I have only come forward with this request upon learning of the intended mark breakdown following the verbal confirmation from the professor during the redistribution of the midterms held earlier last week and would like to submit this application before the next quiz is held.
In the future, I will attempt to complete all quizzes before the deadline and seek additional confirmation questions should I have additional concerns about a marking scheme with the professor of any course in which I am enrolled. I will also disclose any relevant extenuating circumstances with the relevant staff so that any necessary accommodations can be given with significant advance notice.
I am requesting a change in mark breakdown for my marks in GEOL 200 (Oceanography) due to an unclear and inaccurate syllabus of the course.
The given syllabus divides the mark breakdown with a midterm exam worth 40 of the final mark and the final exam worth 60 of the final mark. Yet, the mark breakdown failed to include two online quizzes worth 10 each, thus changing the actual mark breakdown in the following way: quiz 1 worth 10, midterm exam worth 30, quiz 2 worth 10, and the final exam worth 50. Had I known that the first quiz was weighted towards my mark in the class, I would have completed the quiz. Additionally, I would have completed the lab regardless of the weighting, but due to a sudden loss of a friend, I chose to attend his funeral rather than write a formative quiz. I believe that since the provided syllabus failed to give an accurate mark breakdown and the first quiz which I was lead to believe was not worth any marks was actually weighted, the weighting of the first quiz should be put, in my particular case, to zero percent and that quiz 2 should be weighted to 20. I believe this to be fair only because I was misinformed of the mark breakdown given the official breakdown on the official syllabus and the circumstances under which I did not complete the first quiz. Additionally, I have only come forward with this request upon learning of the intended mark breakdown following the verbal confirmation from the professor during the redistribution of the midterms held earlier last week and would like to submit this application before the next quiz is held.
In the future, I will attempt to complete all quizzes before the deadline and seek additional confirmation questions should I have additional concerns about a marking scheme with the professor of any course in which I am enrolled. I will also disclose any relevant extenuating circumstances with the relevant staff so that any necessary accommodations can be given with significant advance notice.