Advice needed regarding a college class

[ariastar]

Okay, this class I'm taking right now I must receive an A in for it to transfer to UCSC, and it's a required course. So there's no option other than an A. The class has a total of 402 points between all assignments, quizzes, and the final. To receive an A, I can miss no more than 40 points. On the first quiz, I got 10 out of 12, and on the first assignment, I got a 25/25. But on the second assignment I got 0 out of 25. In the forum, she responded that assignments are to be submitted in text files, but didn't clarify that that was the first assignment ONLY.

The entire original forum question, with the exception of the name being removed (this IS a public entry afterall, with the forum being private to those in the class):

I'm Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, and I would like some clarification about the lab assignments. When you say to create a text file, on what program do you mean? Like as in a Microsoft word file, or something else?


The instructor's entire answer:

Yes, a word or .txt file would be fine


So it's being held against anyone in the class who submitted the second assignment as a text file rather than as a source file. Apparently her answer applied ONLY to the first assignment, not to assignmentS. We all get zeros. There's a clear message TODAY that all files from now on are to be source code (the entire post):

Please only turn in .c files from now on.


I have yet to hear back on whether or not she'll make exceptions and allow one-time resubmissions.

So here's where I need advice. If she won't allow resubmissions, should I just drop the class and retake it in the fall, possibly under another instructor? I am allowed another 13 points missed to still have a chance at an A, and, between several more assignments, several quizzes, and a 150-point-final, unless I cheated altogether, I don't see how it's likely that I'll still get an A. Everything is taken online, including the quizzes and final, and everything is open-book, though timed, but by cheating, I mean having someone else stand over my shoulder for all quizzes and the final. I know life's not fair, but if an instructor said that assignments are to be in one format, but wanted certain assignment sin another format, and hands out zeros for those who submitted in text, yeah, I'm gonna cry "not fair" on this one.

If I remain in the class, I will be riddled with anxiety over basically being required to get a perfect score on everything from here on out.

If I drop and retake in the fall, just so I can fucking submit that assignment in the format she actually wants, then I'll be a quarter behind, and I'm already at a point where it would be very easy for me to just quit altogether. I am old, as far as college freshmen go, and I'll be likely to just quit.

If I stay in now and don't get an A, my transcript will show the B, as well as retaking the class (in which case I'll still be a quarter behind plan).

I think I've got a strong enough case for being allowed to resubmit. And if I don't get to and stay in, would there be anyone willing to double-check my work and quiz/final answers before I turn anything in?

[ariastar]

She got mad at me and accused me of spamming the forum when I asked if she'd allow resubmissions! She said I should have sent her a private message, which I did earlier, but which she hasn't answered. I posted on the forum as I doubt I was the only person wanting to know about resubmitting.

[_sorrow_]

Based on the fact that your mentioning forums & private messaging, i'm guessing this is an online class -- but is it an online class exclusively? If not, i'd say what may be your best bet is to just waltz into her office during office hours and plead your case. Explain not only that you need to get an A in the class, but how you were confused and unsure, etc..

I know that doing something like that has worked for me in the past, but it does sound like your prof is a bit of a female dog..

[tokenuser]

Isn't a source file a text file? Word is not a text file - its a binary document in a proprietary format.

Oh, she meant a text file with a .C extension - probably so that it would pass through her automarking compilation and run tool.

Talk to her in person. Much better response. Online looses the nuances of conversation. Take her chocolate - it would work for my wife ;) ... or maybe a batch of "brownies" :D

[phatlip12]

What class is it?

[masherscf]

Talk to her in person. Much better response. Online looses the nuances of conversation. Take her chocolate - it would work for my wife ;) ... or maybe a batch of "brownies" :D

Heck, an office visit and simple honest, no attitude, contrition. Your mistake sounds honest, I can't imagine your instructor not cutting you some slack.

[ariastar]

Reading the forum, a LOT of people were unhappy with this, so she went ahead and regraded and I got the full 25.

Sorrow, by the time I signed up, the in-person classes were full.

Token, right. Source file.

Phatty, it's C.

Mash, with how I am with grades, I'd cry.

[tokenuser]

We had a MacPascal lecturer (hey this was '88) that insisted that Pascal source code be formated via MacWrite, paginated, and submitted in binders with screen shots.

By this stage I had a PC and was using Borland PAscal instead (or should I say "as well"), so my code had to be transfered via dialup (remember, this was 88) to a Unix box, which I would then FTP into via the convoluted network setup in the lab, down load to floppy (the macs were twin floppy Mac Plus models), pull the (working on the PC) code into the Mac (to recompile and take screen shots), thne dump it all out to MacWrite for formatting and printing.

I'd have killed for the ability to submit a source code file.

We hated our TA's. The "Bastard Grader" we had marked our class harder than the other two labs. Funnily enough though, we kicked ass by the end and our lab was basically the top third of the group taking the class, and all our lab work got scaled against the other labs. Pissed off the other labs.

The Bastard Grader eventually got a job at the company I worked for - and we became great friends :) ... but we never let him forget that.

[phatlip12]

Reading the forum, a LOT of people were unhappy with this, so she went ahead and regraded and I got the full 25.

Sorrow, by the time I signed up, the in-person classes were full.

Token, right. Source file.

Phatty, it's C.

Mash, with how I am with grades, I'd cry.

I take C in the fall. If I need any help I'l be sure to ask! :)

[masherscf]

Mash, with how I am with grades, I'd cry.

Crying might work. It happens to me at least once a semester. Not me crying...one of my students. I hate it when students cry. Especially when the guys cry.

I waited years for someone to tell me that they would do anything for an A, and it was a big ugly guy.

[ariastar]

I take C in the fall. If I need any help I'l be sure to ask! :)

LOL, no prob! Would be good to reinforce stuff to me. If I don't know the answer, I can ask any one of the people I work with and they can teach me too. Hell, my first program only worked in the end because Nick fixed a minor little detail for me that kept it from compiling.

In the fall, there's the next level of C, and after that, either Data Structures of Advanced C, and I'm opting at this point got Data Structures required at the CC level to transfer to UCSC.

I know I can't place into calculus, though should have no problem getting into trig or discrete math, and I think I can test out of the English classes. There are three levels of calc required at the CC level, and trig is a pre-req. So I can do that in a year if I place into trig. USCS also likes linear algebra and differential equations to be taken at the CC.

Apparently it's supposed to be hard as hell to get into the CS major at USCS, which is part of why I am aiming for it. Stupid reason, eh?

It's supposed to help to take Intro to Processor Assembly Language and Advanced Programming: Pentium Assembly Language, calc 1D, and two physics courses. If I take all of these, then due to the math classes being taken one after the other rather than concurrently:

Trig or Discrete Mathematics
Calc 1A
Calc 1B
Calc 1C
Linear Algebra
Differential Equations
Calc 1D

Well, it should take seven quarters.

Then, for programming, there are:
Intro to C (taking now)
Intermediate Problem Solving in C
Data Structures
Intro to Processor Assembly Language
Advanced Programming: Pentium Assembly Language

And physics:
Preparatory Physics
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Fluids, Optics, and Thermodynamics
(optional) Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electricity and Magnetism

So eight quarters after this one, end of summer 2009. And the counselor said USCS allows applicants who are nearly finished, but not quite. She also said that USCS gives priority to DeAnza students with a 3.2GPA or better over other CCs, which I've heard elsewhere as well.


Oh yeah, Phatty, I forgot all about you a long time ago.

[ariastar]

We had a MacPascal lecturer (hey this was '88) that insisted that Pascal source code be formated via MacWrite, paginated, and submitted in binders with screen shots.

By this stage I had a PC and was using Borland PAscal instead (or should I say "as well"), so my code had to be transfered via dialup (remember, this was 88) to a Unix box, which I would then FTP into via the convoluted network setup in the lab, down load to floppy (the macs were twin floppy Mac Plus models), pull the (working on the PC) code into the Mac (to recompile and take screen shots), thne dump it all out to MacWrite for formatting and printing.

I'd have killed for the ability to submit a source code file.

We hated our TA's. The "Bastard Grader" we had marked our class harder than the other two labs. Funnily enough though, we kicked ass by the end and our lab was basically the top third of the group taking the class, and all our lab work got scaled against the other labs. Pissed off the other labs.

The Bastard Grader eventually got a job at the company I worked for - and we became great friends :) ... but we never let him forget that.

Haha! Give him a wedgie now, as payback!

[ariastar]

Crying might work. It happens to me at least once a semester. Not me crying...one of my students. I hate it when students cry. Especially when the guys cry.

I waited years for someone to tell me that they would do anything for an A, and it was a big ugly guy.

LOL! You know he wanted you. ;)

Thing is I put a lot of pressure on myself, only now I'm holding down a job and supporting myself while having the same expectations.

[wastern]

Talk to the teacher about it, it can't hurt.

As far as "cheating" by taking the stuff with a group. Its expected when classes are set up like that. I've been told by professors to get together in groups to take the online quizzes, they aren't out to screw you....most of them.

Not sure if they are so keen on that with the final, but I bet you 95% of the class will do it in groups. Use the resources around you. As long as you aren't that dumb ass in the group that takes everyone else's answers and gives nothing back back its cool

[ariastar]

As far as "cheating" by taking the stuff with a group. Its expected when classes are set up like that. I've been told by professors to get together in groups to take the online quizzes, they aren't out to screw you....most of them.

Really? Because I was talking about pros in the field, not classmates. :)

[phatlip12]

LOL, no prob! Would be good to reinforce stuff to me. If I don't know the answer, I can ask any one of the people I work with and they can teach me too. Hell, my first program only worked in the end because Nick fixed a minor little detail for me that kept it from compiling.

In the fall, there's the next level of C, and after that, either Data Structures of Advanced C, and I'm opting at this point got Data Structures required at the CC level to transfer to UCSC.

I know I can't place into calculus, though should have no problem getting into trig or discrete math, and I think I can test out of the English classes. There are three levels of calc required at the CC level, and trig is a pre-req. So I can do that in a year if I place into trig. USCS also likes linear algebra and differential equations to be taken at the CC.

Apparently it's supposed to be hard as hell to get into the CS major at USCS, which is part of why I am aiming for it. Stupid reason, eh?

It's supposed to help to take Intro to Processor Assembly Language and Advanced Programming: Pentium Assembly Language, calc 1D, and two physics courses. If I take all of these, then due to the math classes being taken one after the other rather than concurrently:

Trig or Discrete Mathematics
Calc 1A
Calc 1B
Calc 1C
Linear Algebra
Differential Equations
Calc 1D

Well, it should take seven quarters.

Then, for programming, there are:
Intro to C (taking now)
Intermediate Problem Solving in C
Data Structures
Intro to Processor Assembly Language
Advanced Programming: Pentium Assembly Language

And physics:
Preparatory Physics
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Fluids, Optics, and Thermodynamics
(optional) Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electricity and Magnetism

So eight quarters after this one, end of summer 2009. And the counselor said USCS allows applicants who are nearly finished, but not quite. She also said that USCS gives priority to DeAnza students with a 3.2GPA or better over other CCs, which I've heard elsewhere as well.


Oh yeah, Phatty, I forgot all about you a long time ago.

I'm going to my community college for Computer Information Systems at the moment. I'm going to get an associates degree and then transfer to a 4 year school.

To get my associates I need 18 CIS and Data Processing Programming electives. This is what I've taken/may take:

Computer Information Systems (http://cecil.edu/programs/programs-05-07/information-technology/programming.asp)
Computer Science 1 (Completed)
C Programming Language (Fall)
Java (Prolly in the spring)
Visual Basic (Already had an intro of it in another class)
Web Design 1 (Completed)
Scripting Languages

These are some of the programming requirements for the BS degree at the 4 year school I am planning on switching to:

Computer Information Systems (Programming) (http://www.strayer.edu/campus_catalog/all/21901/christiana/information_systems/BSIS)
C++ Programming Language
Object Oriented Programming I
Object Oriented Programming II
Java Programming I
Java Programming II
Senior Seminar In Computer Information Systems

*I looked into everything, all of my credits WILL transfer*

[ariastar]

I'm going to my community college for Computer Information Systems at the moment. I'm going to get an associates degree and then transfer to a 4 year school.

To get my associates I need 18 CIS and Data Processing Programming electives. This is what I've taken/may take:

Computer Information Systems (http://cecil.edu/programs/programs-05-07/information-technology/programming.asp)
Computer Science 1 (Completed)
C Programming Language (Fall)
Java (Prolly in the spring)
Visual Basic (Already had an intro of it in another class)
Web Design 1 (Completed)
Scripting Languages

These are some of the programming requirements for the BS degree at the 4 year school I am planning on switching to:

Computer Information Systems (Programming) (http://www.strayer.edu/campus_catalog/all/21901/christiana/information_systems/BSIS)
C++ Programming Language
Object Oriented Programming I
Object Oriented Programming II
Java Programming I
Java Programming II
Senior Seminar In Computer Information Systems

*I looked into everything, all of my credits WILL transfer*

USCS prefers that the bulk of the classes taken there be the tech courses. As the ed.plan states, their teaching is more theory-based rather than current-programs based.

Why not skip the AA and go right for the BS?

[phatlip12]

USCS prefers that the bulk of the classes taken there be the tech courses. As the ed.plan states, their teaching is more theory-based rather than current-programs based.

Why not skip the AA and go right for the BS?

It's pretty much the same path. The classes I take at school A (to get the associates) transfer to school B (for the bachelors) and getting an associates at school A GUARANTEES admission to school B. So pretty much, I do half the work at school A for cheaper and then finish up at school B.

[tokenuser]

Why not skip the AA and go right for the BS?I think my BS drove me to AA.

How does the progression go? Bull Shit, More Shit, Piled High and Deep??

[ariastar]

I think my BS drove me to AA.

How does the progression go? Bull Shit, More Shit, Piled High and Deep??

ROTFLOL, mind if I quote this in my LJ?

[masherscf]

I think my BS drove me to AA.

How does the progression go? Bull Shit, More Shit, Piled High and Deep??

Spot on 7890