College Help

[Gamingphreek]

Tomorrow my Comparative Languages (Computer Science) class is having our second test. For the past week. my Professor has stated that 2 things would happen:

1. We would get a some homework grade back (Thats right, we have no HW grades back yet)
2. He would post solutions to past homework (No grades so we have no idea if we are right or not)

As of right now, neither of which has happened. Myself and my classmates have literally nothing to work with. The book contains no selected answers for us to check ourselves with. Additionally, the book contains no examples of the content.

With this in mind, I sent him this E-Mail:

Professor,

I, as well as many of my classmates, are struggling with studying for this upcoming test tomorrow:

1. We have been awaiting the posting of homework solutions and/or homework grades, but that hasn't happened.

2. Our book provides no solutions to the problems it asks. Thus, while we are studying, we have no idea if we are understanding the concepts correctly.

3. The book also does not provide many, if any, examples on critical problems (Array access functions). Thus, without the homework, we are unable to verify if we understand the material or not.

Honestly, I (as well as the classmates that I have spoken to) do not feel that I have been able to adequately prepare for this test. I have been desperately reading over information in the chapters/lecture slides and attempting problems, but with no way to check myself, I feel very uneasy.

With the aforementioned reasons in mind, would it be at all possible to postpone the test until Monday? Given that a test is supposed to be a representation of the material we have mastered, I, personally, feel that the test tomorrow would not be an accurate representation of my knowledge on the subject matter.

I hope nothing in this request came off as disrespectful or presumptuous, as neither were intend. I merely hope that you understand the severity of the situation that myself and my classmates find ourselves in.

Thank You,

Do you think my approach was appropriate and worded well enough?

Quite honestly, I would come in on the weekend and take the test if thats the only time he could give us

What do ya'll think?

Thanks,
-Kevin

Edit: Clarification: I sent this now because we have class on M, W, F. This past Wednesday, he we complained about these problems and he assured us he would have grades and solutions posted that night or Thursday (today). Since neither has happened, now was the time to do such a thing.

 

[Leros]

Seems decent, but all of your classmates are in the same position. With a curve it doesn't really matter.

 

[oogabooga]

I guess it really depends on the professor. A lot of my professors a letter like that would have had no effect. I imagine they may actually power themselves on students tears so that letter may have only encouraged them I hope you have classmates who'll agree if he asks just in case he decides to explore. Last thin you want to do is say you and your classmates then when the professor asks no ones backing you up.

 

[Q]

Why'd you wait until 12:50AM to send him this email when the test is tomorrow?

 

[fulltilt39]

a simple "the dog at my homework and i'm puking my guts out so i can't take the test" might've sufficed.

but yeah, it gets the point across

 

[newnameman]

Well, it's kind of difficult to evaluate whether the professor has offered adequate preperation without knowing the breadth of the resources he has made available. That being said, I imagine that the professor would have been more receptive to your concerns had you brought them to his attention earlier than the night before the exam. I don't think it's fair to your professor to expect him to rearrange the entire class schedule based on a last minute request. Plus, he probably assumes you're just a slacker who hasn't bothered to study yet.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Why'd you wait until 12:50AM to send him this email when the test is tomorrow?

Yep. Makes you like you aren't prepared and trying to cover your ass by pushing the test off.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Leros
Seems decent, but all of your classmates are in the same position. With a curve it doesn't really matter.

Thats true, but I would rather learn the material instead of riding a curve around. Also, there are some extremely smart people in this world - I would rather not have the off chance that a couple are bumming out in my class waiting to throw off said curve.

-Kevin

 

[Bignate603]

If you're sending this to him 1 day before the test you pretty much deserve whatever happens. If you were worried about this you should have gone in to talk to him a week or two ago to talk to him.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Why'd you wait until 12:50AM to send him this email when the test is tomorrow?

We have class M, W, F. On Wednesday, we all complained about these problems. He said that he would have them up that night or Thursday (today).

 

[TecHNooB]

Good luck sir.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Second test and no feedback? I'd be camped out in the dean's office by now. 'Course, this being a CS class, the prof couldn't care less if you and the rest of the class understand the material or not. After all, the prof has much more important things to do like research, getting published and/or, getting paid for consulting. Most CS profs tend to view teaching as an unwelcome distraction from their real job. What does the TA have to say?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Second test and no feedback? I'd be camped out in the dean's office by now. 'Course, this being a CS class, the prof couldn't care less if you and the rest of the class understand the material or not. After all, the prof has much more important things to do like research, getting published and/or, getting paid for consulting. Most CS profs tend to view teaching as an unwelcome distraction from their real job. What does the TA have to say?

This is going to sound like a joke, but this is the TA's exact words when asked about grades:
"I'll have to ask Professor [name]"

And yes, we have had no feedback. Even what was promised to us on Wednesday was not delivered.

Furthermore, we are using ANTLR (Another Tool For Language Recognition). The program is so horribly buggy I can't get it to work on Linux. I went to the Professor's office hours and he spent 45 minutes trying to get it to work and he wasn't able to. (Thus on all my homeworks, I had to manually trace the logic, guess the answer, and hope it was acceptable).

-Kevin

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Second test and no feedback? I'd be camped out in the dean's office by now. 'Course, this being a CS class, the prof couldn't care less if you and the rest of the class understand the material or not. After all, the prof has much more important things to do like research, getting published and/or, getting paid for consulting. Most CS profs tend to view teaching as an unwelcome distraction from their real job. What does the TA have to say?

This is going to sound like a joke, but this is the TA's exact words when asked about grades:
"I'll have to ask Professor [name]"

And yes, we have had no feedback. Even what was promised to us on Wednesday was not delivered.

Furthermore, we are using ANTLR (Another Tool For Language Recognition). The program is so horribly buggy I can't get it to work on Linux. I went to the Professor's office hours and he spent 45 minutes trying to get it to work and he wasn't able to. (Thus on all my homeworks, I had to manually trace the logic, guess the answer, and hope it was acceptable).

-Kevin

Depending on how important it is to you, magnus' advice is good. Of course, the dean might not be available if he also "doesn't care less if you and the rest of the class understand the material or not. After all, [he might have] much more important things to do like research, getting published and/or, getting paid for consulting....". If this is the case, you're screwed - and you might as well enjoy it.

 

[oiprocs]

It's college. He doesn't have to hold your hand. I'd roll with it, because if he knows he hasn't given out solutions and stuff, then most likely he'll favor a better curve to even things out. Study hard and pick up some grammar while you're at it.

 

[RESmonkey]

Welcome to college.

Things that are different from HS:
Your textbook has no solutions to it's answers (often)
Your professor might not speak fluent English (uncommon)
You might not be taught by a professor, but a post-doc guy from some far off land. (uncommon)

I'm too lazy to finish adding things to that list above.

 

[timosyy]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
I hope nothing in this request came off as disrespectful or presumptuous, as neither were intend. I merely hope that you understand the severity of the situation that myself and my classmates find ourselves in.

Should've been "intended". Letter is fine, though I've never had a college professor move an exam back the day before/day of.

 

[Mike Gayner]

The fact you've left it so late tells me you're trying to cover your ass for being unprepared.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Mike Gayner
The fact you've left it so late tells me you're trying to cover your ass for being unprepared.

Or it tells you the fact that you didn't read the edit for clarifiation

Welcome to college.

Things that are different from HS:
Your textbook has no solutions to it's answers (often)
Your professor might not speak fluent English (uncommon)
You might not be taught by a professor, but a post-doc guy from some far off land. (uncommon)

I'm too lazy to finish adding things to that list above.

I'm a senior in college, I know how things work. I would say your first point is very very wrong. I think this is the first book I have had that provides no examples, samples, or solutions.

It's college. He doesn't have to hold your hand

He absolutely doesn't, but he DOES have do this job. No one can adequately prepare for a test if they are unsure they are learning the material right. I can study dynamic scoping all I want (I know what it is and how it works, this is an example), it doesn't mean that I am implementing the concept correctly in my code trace.

He most certainly doesn't know that he forgot to post anything - I guarantee it. He is quite an odd individual...

-Kevin

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: Leros
Seems decent, but all of your classmates are in the same position. With a curve it doesn't really matter.

Exactly. It will all work out in the end if everybody bombs the test. I wouldn't stress too much about it.

 

[newnameman]

Bump for update?

 

[ivan2]

get a few more of your classmates to write similar letters telling the prof you didn't have enough study material. if he's responsible, he will either take the last HW off from the exam or postpone it.

u can do the same with homework that you can't finish, think it's too hard? grab a few friends and start to write to the prof said u can't finish in time.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well the test went horribly. A few people I talked to actually knew the material very well, but a majority were very aggravated that he didn't keep his promises (and at the lack of study material).

He had sent me an E-Mail back saying he understands, but to just look over the lecture slides. After the exam, I E-Mailed him back saying that wasn't enough for me. Looking over a few slides does not teach me the information. I asked him if there was anything he could do - retake, corrections. He hasn't E-Mailed back yet, but I'm going to his office hours on Monday to explain how 'in the dark' myself and many others felt.

I already know I failed it (Or came darn close to failing), so hopefully he'll do something.

-Kevin

(I do think I got an 'A' on my 4000 level STAT exam that I took today though! )

 

[Mo0o]

Should have went to office hours

 

[dbk]

lol... grow up dude. Professors aren't going to cater to your every need. Just because you feel that the text book is insufficient - doesn't mean he's going to sympathize. I'm sure he's run into many kids whining about being unprepared. I would be so annoyed by that email.

"Given that a test is supposed to be a representation of the material we have mastered, I, personally, feel that the test tomorrow would not be an accurate representation of my knowledge on the subject matter."

Goddamn, that sounds so pompous.