If you ever want more comments on a paper or other assignment so that you understand where your grade came from, please don’t hesitate to ask.  Asking for more feedback or asking for a clarification of how your grade was calculated is not a grade complaint.  However, if you are unhappy with your grade (either on an assignment or in the class) and you want it changed, there is a process for appealing your grade.  Any assignment grade appeals must be filed within one week of when your paper was returned to you.   Any course grade complaints must occur before the end of the quarter following the course.  Here's what to do:

1. Go to and thoroughly read the information at: http://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Professor-to-Change-Your-Grade
2. If you decide you want to try and convince me to change your grade after reading the above article, then email me.  In your email you need to attach the paper or assignment whose grade is in question.  Also, you need to thoroughly explain why you think a grade change is warranted.  Your explanation needs to be respectful, clear, concise, and have evidence to back it up. You must demonstrate that based on the grading criteria for the assignment/course that your grade isn't an accurate measure of your performance. I will read your argument and decide whether or not I’m willing to adjust your grade. Then, I’ll reply to your email and let you know my decision.  It may take me a week or so to get back to you, so please be patient.  If I feel a grade change is appropriate, I'll change it at this point.
3. If I don’t agree with you and change your grade, you have two choices.  You can either just write it off and move on, or you can take your case up the chain of command.  To do that, you would go and meet with the Dean of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Division, Brian Palmer (brian.palmer@seattlecolleges.edu).  If the Dean is unable to resolve your complaint, he will advise you as to how to file a formal complaint with the college.

A few things to consider, as well:

• Grades in this class are not given based on effort.  While it’s true that lots of effort usually results in higher quality papers and higher exam scores, there is no way for me to accurately and fairly assess how much effort a particular student puts into his or her work.  So, papers and exams are graded solely based on what’s on the page – not how much the student tried.
• Grades aren't personal.  While it's sometimes very hard to believe that instructors assess student work as fairly as possible, they do.  I have no reason to want you upset with me and I have every reason to want you to do well.  If you haven't earned a strong grade, then it isn't because I don’t like you or am trying to make your life difficult. 
• Keep in mind that this is the district's (and my) understanding of how decimal grades convert to letter grades: http://seattlecolleges.com/DISTRICT/catalog/ccprogressgrades.aspx#gradescredits. In my classes, I use system which places weights for different categories of grades to balance to a final percentage.  Percentages represent how many total points you earned out of total points possible in the course.  Students often think a grade below a 2.0 is ‘not passing’, whereas it is actually considered an average performance.
   

*adapted somewhat ruthlessly from JC Clapp