Background from Instructor: I emailed a student asking her to revise her weekly assignment. She had not been specific when referring back to the short film and reading in her discussion; there was no indication she watched the film or read the article. The directions state that I need specifics. Rather than enter a 0, I offered her the chance to revise it.

Email from student: Hello, With all due respect, an assignment completed within the due date and time warrants credit. The assignment was completed, even if it does not meet all standards does not warrant a 0. I apologize it is not as specific as desired, however receiving a 0 is unnecessary, and not reflective of completing an assignment. I would like for this to be reevaluated. Thanks.

Background from Instructor: I send a weekly email reminder to students in my large online class. I feel it is a way to help students keep on track and to let them know I am there.  The email is always labeled, “Reminder for the upcoming week.” I received this email from a student.

Email from Student: Please remove me from your reminder list. These emails are more of a nuisance than a helpful aid. I don’t need my professor writing to me.

I replied to the student, telling her she is free to delete or ignore my weekly email reminders.

Background provided by Instructor: It is near the end of the semester and I emailed all students who have missing assignments, urging them to get those in for reduced points. One student emails on Saturday evening to say she is upset that she is doing so poorly. I explain she is missing three assignments, and that I have emailed her several times about these over the past month. She says she did them but I point out they have not been submitted and to email them to me. After several back and forth emails, I point out it is Saturday evening and I need to go. I suggest she submit the missing assignments for me to grade as late (she’s lucky I am willing to accept them) and if she wants to meet me to discuss things further, she can come by during office hours. She then replies again:

Email from student: I have things to do too, but I am very concerned about my grade and do not want to fail a class when I did the work and passed it in, and am not getting credit for it. I realize it is Saturday night but you are the instructor and you should be answering any emails from students no matter when. I know I have had all semester to deal with this, but I am just now looking at my grades since it is the end of the semester.

Background provided by Instructor: I received this email from a student after the class ended when they checked their final grade (C). They lost points for never doing the final paper. They had received many reminder emails, including the opportunity to take an incomplete and send in the final paper later. Their decision to wait to read the assigned paperback in the last week is telling.

Email from student: I do not understand why I am being penalized a whole letter grade just for one paper. I understand that I signed up for this course but I have had work in the morning and baseball games every night and honestly do not have much time to read a book in a week. If there is anything else that I can do I will do it.