I always flat out tell them that they can figure out how they are doing. As you have stated, the syllabus explains exactly how the grade is calculated and they receive all their work back.
My sense is this request reinforces the idea that we GIVE them the grade. I want my students to understand that they EARN the grade. There is no reason to behave as if the former is true. If they email me to ask for specific assignment grades (usually because they missed class : ( )I am happy to tell them what those grades were. But when they ask me how they are doing or what their grades are I say "How do YOU think you are doing?" Nancy Melucci Long Beach City College Long Beach CA --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
