Tipsters- One of the points missed is how the policy of accepting late papers is a slap in the face to the vast majority of students who do it right and get it in on time. What kind of message do we send them when we accept a late paper? Even if we knock a couple of points off for missing the deadline what mesage does that send to the larger group that stayed up all night, passed on a date or a party, turned down a work offer, etc. so that they could do what was expected? I don't take late papers (unless there were unforseen events that were ouside the student's control) because I have too much respect for the majority of students who bust their collective asses to do it right. I've had plenty of feedback on this issue from students. The few who won't organize their lives think that my policy is draconian. The majority thank me for acknowledging the extent of their efforts.
-Don. On Tue, 16 Apr 2002, Harry Avis wrote: > > I agree with Rick. Students already know there are consequences to actions. > The consequences should not cause more harm than is necessary to change the > behavior. How about this for a solution. If a paper is late, i will reach > down your throat and rip out your lungs. The student knows the consequences > and if the paper is late you are justified in delunging him/her. Maybe too > many Tipsters seem to have had ex Army sergeants for professors, or maybe > they have forgetten that our students lead complicated lives. Haven't any of > the rest of you ever made an excuse for a not returning a set of papers the > next class day? Haven't any of you made a late payment on a charge card > because you forget to mail a letter. Haven't any of you promised a letter of > recommendation on Monday and not finished it until Wednesday? I remember > reading somewhere that while faculty test low on scores of achievement > motivation they tend to test high on needs for power. I don't feel that is > true for me, I am low on both scores, but doesn't it seem that some of the > responses indicate a strong need to exercise power? > > > In my own classes, I take a simple approach; out of the four 20 > >point essays due during the term, students are allowed to turn in any > >single essay in late w/o penalty. After the "freebie," they lose 10 > >points per class session (my classes usually meet once per week--if it's > >twice per week, it's 5 points per class session) until the essay is > >turned in; i.e., one week late=10 point loss, two weeks late=No Credit > >for the essay. Students write their essays their selection of three > >topics (for each essay) and, providing their initial essay was submitted > >_on_time_, they are permitted to submit a second essay from the same > >group if they want to improve their grade on the first one (I give them > >the higher of the two grades). Of course, a student who has a doctor's > >note is considered to have submitted his/her essay on time so long as > >s/he does so at the first class meeting s/he is permitted to attend. > >Between the two incentives (full credit for the essay and the ability to > >improve the grade) I seldom have any problem with students turning in > >late essays. > > > > As others have point out, in the real world there are costs > >attached to late submissions--by insisting students meet their > >obligations on time in class (or face clearly defined sanctions such as > >grade reduction) we are simply treating them as responsible adults, not > >children. > > > > Rick > >-- > > > >Rick Adams > > > > Harry Avis PhD > Sierra College > Rocklin, CA 95677 > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Anything worth doing is worth doing at all. Unknown. > If we live long enough, death comes to us all > Unknown > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ******************************************************************** Don Allen email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dept. of Psychology voice: (604)-323-5871 Langara College fax: (604)-323-5555 100 W. 49th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. Canada, V5Y 2Z6 ******************************************************************** --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
