Was working on a group assignment for class

[BullyCanadian]

Hi Sir,

I should have spoken to you in class or after class but my mind was elsewhere (I had a job interview coming up after class and my mind was preoccupied with that.). I have definitely picked the wrong group. In past classes where I didn?t know anyone and picked a group through the discussion boards I didn?t have a problem. The way we had set up our group to work was to split the assignment 4 ways and I was to complete the Salesforce.com marketing strategy and the key issues faced by salesforce.com. After I had completed that I was to send it to the rest of my group members who would complete the following sections in order. Now I know that I did not copy anyone for the work I had done, but it would be impossible to prove that to you and also I cannot attest for the rest of my group because I did not work with them face to face only by email/msn correspondence. I believe (PERSONINMYGROUP) had shared our work with another group (he told me he had worked on his part with (PERSON IN OTHER GROUP) who is someone I do not know and he had only told me after we had gotten back our assignment with a mark of zero). I truly wish I could have seen the result of assignment 1before we had to hand in assignment 2.

Now the reason I am sending you this email is that I (under no suspicion, I of had worked with the same group for assignment 2 as I didn?t know the result of assignment 1) and am afraid of the same result. Again I know I did my sections honestly, independent without collaboration with anyone else in class. Before the marked assignment comes back I would like to ask if there is anything I can do. Is it possible for me to leave my group and right now (I do not wish to have my mark based on the assignment 2 that we just handed in yesterday) can you give me something else an alternative assignment or I can even do this assignment over completely (and in it I will include the 2 slides we had split up for me to do unaltered) because I am reluctant of the result that would come fourth with this assignment as well. I realize I have no way to prove of what I have just told you, but you can look up my previous records (I?m a second year business student) from last year, I am not this kind of student I work hard for my grades. Also I am the student that sits at the front of the class most of the time just so you know who is writing this email.

Please let me know
Thanks a lot
-BullyCanadian

Basically the letter above is my letter to the prof about how I didnt cheat in my group, I had no idea they were sharing our work, and if I had known about it before we handed in assignment 2, I would have never worked on assignment 2 with them.

I HONEST TO GOD didnt have any clue of what my group members were doing. I would just complete my section and send it off by email to my group. The way this group was made was that I didnt know anyone in this class (its a third year course, Im in second year) and we use WEBCT (I believe in the USA you guys use BlackBoard a lot) and it has discussion boards where people can post questions and comments, in this case at the beggining of the year people made posts about forming groups.

Now what do you all think the outcome of this email will be? I honestly had no clue the group members would be like this, they all seemed serious and hard working, but I guess not. (BTW he didnt go to the dean he gave us 1 warning and this is it we get a zero on assignment 1). Also he knows who I am now for sure (I always sit in the front row and pay attention/take notes and respond in class).

Also I told my group to f*ck off.

 

[Xyo II]

He gave your group the 0, just assuming that your group had copied and not the other group?

 

[Tremulant]

Just nitpicking, don't mean to be a nazi, but you used the wrong 'fourth.' You should of used 'forth.'

And, I actually use WebCT in my school for some classes, but I haven't had any bad issues with group members yet.

Anyways, good luck :beer:

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: Xyo II
He gave your group the 0, just assuming that your group had copied and not the other group?

Could've given both groups a 0.

Unless the copied part was something that he'd read personally or seen somewhere else (not sure what the assignment was about, so this may not even be possible).

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: Xyo II
He gave your group the 0, just assuming that your group had copied and not the other group?

he gave both the groups zero, and I just took a look at the other groups members assignment it was 100% the same (I have a mutual friend with one of them and got their msn) I saw my work in their sheets just reworded, sentence by sentence

and ya I saw the 'forth' mistake after i sent it :S

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: Xyo II
He gave your group the 0, just assuming that your group had copied and not the other group?

he gave both the groups zero, and I just took a look at the other groups members assignment it was 100% the same (I have a mutual friend with one of them and got their msn) I saw my work in their sheets just reworded, sentence by sentence

and ya I saw the 'forth' mistake after i sent it :S

Well, that just sucks.

 

[kingtas]

Sorry to hear that. It is a lesson in life that when the "group" fails, all the members of the group fail. Saying that, I'd have protested, too. It sucks.

 

[LongCoolMother]

group projects suck. always hated working in groups for assignments. have been screwed over more than several times. "you have to learn teamwork." while this is true, sometimes its soo bad....if only they knew....

 

[BullyCanadian]

its PURE BS i know I wont be able to change the zero on my first assignment, I just hope I dont get screwed over on the second one, he better not deny it or not let me, or Im going to the dean

 

[akshatp]

The professor should look up your history and give you the chance to make good on the assignments. You should not have to suffer becuase the rest of your group cheated.,

Chances are, if he didn't receive a similar email from anyone else who received a zero, he will beleive your story and give you the benefit of the doubt. If not, then take it to the Dean of your school. (Or whatever you call a dean in your country; ie headmaster, principal, etc)

 

[kingtas]

I'm sure the prof will keep this situation in mind and all will end well.

 

[sygyzy]

It's hard for me to read your writing. Is English your primary language?

 

[rocadelpunk]

I think they should have group work just for junior/senior level courses.

I can't count the number of times I got dicked over in freshman engineering classes

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
It's hard for me to read your writing. Is English your primary language?

lol r u serious? Yes english is my primary language although I admit Im not a good writer

 

[kingtas]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: sygyzy
It's hard for me to read your writing. Is English your primary language?

lol r u serious? Yes english is my primary language although I admit Im not a good writer

I often write in reponse to something when I'm emotional over the occurence and it often ends up poorly written. Sleep on it and calm down first.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: sygyzy
It's hard for me to read your writing. Is English your primary language?

lol r u serious? Yes english is my primary language although I admit Im not a good writer

QFT

But I still understood what you were trying to say and your point got across to me just fine.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: sygyzy
It's hard for me to read your writing. Is English your primary language?

lol r u serious? Yes english is my primary language although I admit Im not a good writer

QFT

But I still understood what you were trying to say and your point got across to me just fine.

Hmm I think I know my problem, its that when Im writing something straight from thought, all of my ideas are scattered and not organized and it shows in my letter/writing

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: sygyzy
It's hard for me to read your writing. Is English your primary language?

lol r u serious? Yes english is my primary language although I admit Im not a good writer

QFT

But I still understood what you were trying to say and your point got across to me just fine.

Hmm I think I know my problem, its that when Im writing something straight from thought, all of my ideas are scattered and not organized and it shows in my letter/writing

That might be it. Remember, periods commas and the Return key are your friend Long run-on sentences are not

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

First of all, never ever dispute grades by email. Always discuss class problems face to face. Second, what kind of GROUP project did you think it was alright to do all the work by email? Third, what kind of student picks a group to join from messege boards knowing that the group members performance will reflect on his grade?

Looks like you learned a lesson about how to learn the hard way. Say hello to people in class, participate in class and, ask questions in class.

 

[herbiehancock]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
First of all, never ever dispute grades by email. Always discuss class problems face to face.

I was gong to say the same thing...........email is nowhere as effective as a face-to-face meeting.

I've always wondered why students in college rarely, if ever, go visit their profs in person....I moved up two letter grades just because I visited my teacher twice during a semester to let her know I was having difficulty with the class and she ended up being a great instructor. It was a Spanish instructor, and I absolutely suck at learning foreign languages. I try but they just don't click.............give me science, biology or math any day.

But, my visits to her office turned the trick, and since I was just trying to meet a foreign language requirement for my Bachelor's degree, she moved my pitiful 45 overall final grade (I made a 20 on the written final) to a "C". Not proud of that grade but I passed and only because I took some time out of my day to go to her office during office hours and speak to her.

During my college career, I always visited my instructors/profs during the first weeks or two of classes starting. It invariably paid off. I cannot imagine emails giving the same effect.....and it helped the instructors put a face with a name and personalized the student to the instructor.

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: sygyzy
It's hard for me to read your writing. Is English your primary language?

lol r u serious? Yes english is my primary language although I admit Im not a good writer

Not only are you not a "good writer" but you're not even a competent homo sapien. At the very least, I would advise a rigorous course, either self-taught or done by your uni, on the english language.


About your problem -- SOL. Never trust anyone in academia. Unless you absolutely can't help it, NEVER EVER EVER work in groups. One is inherently egotistical and will always do what they perceive to be the best for them. They (the people that shared with the other group) deserve an ass-reaming by you for their treachery. I would attempt to seperate yourself from the individuals that purposefully screwed you over in that class, both mentally and physically. Good luck but you may be fighting a losing battle.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk


I think they should have group work just for junior/senior level courses.

I can't count the number of times I got dicked over in freshman engineering classes

yep

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: chambersc

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: sygyzy
It's hard for me to read your writing. Is English your primary language?

lol r u serious? Yes english is my primary language although I admit Im not a good writer

Not only are you not a "good writer" but you're not even a competent homo sapien. At the very least, I would advise a rigorous course, either self-taught or done by your uni, on the english language.


About your problem -- SOL. Never trust anyone in academia. Unless you absolutely can't help it, NEVER EVER EVER work in groups. One is inherently egotistical and will always do what they perceive to be the best for them. They (the people that shared with the other group) deserve an ass-reaming by you for their treachery. I would attempt to seperate yourself from the individuals that purposefully screwed you over in that class, both mentally and physically. Good luck but you may be fighting a losing battle.

OP: Given the content of the first paragraph of chambersc's post, I'd take the second paragraph with a grain of salt if I were you. Not everyone has so little faith in humanity.

 

[xgsound]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
First of all, never ever dispute grades by email. Always discuss class problems face to face. Second, what kind of GROUP project did you think it was alright to do all the work by email? Third, what kind of student picks a group to join from messege boards knowing that the group members performance will reflect on his grade?

Looks like you learned a lesson about how to learn the hard way. Say hello to people in class, participate in class and, ask questions in class.

Face to face is good, but here's an old piece of advice. Once something is said, it cannot be unsaid. When you're about to have an emotional (angry) confrontation always write it out first in longhand. Then read it back to yourself. Then destroy it and write out a more reasonable one. The physical acts and the eye/hand coordination required by writing and reading what you are going to say usually result in a better outcome for you. I suppose todays equivilant to longhand would be to type it in notepad and print it out to read it. This method will lessen the emotional component and help you organize your thoughts.


Jim

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: chambersc

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: sygyzy
It's hard for me to read your writing. Is English your primary language?

lol r u serious? Yes english is my primary language although I admit Im not a good writer

Not only are you not a "good writer" but you're not even a competent homo sapien. At the very least, I would advise a rigorous course, either self-taught or done by your uni, on the english language.


About your problem -- SOL. Never trust anyone in academia. Unless you absolutely can't help it, NEVER EVER EVER work in groups. One is inherently egotistical and will always do what they perceive to be the best for them. They (the people that shared with the other group) deserve an ass-reaming by you for their treachery. I would attempt to seperate yourself from the individuals that purposefully screwed you over in that class, both mentally and physically. Good luck but you may be fighting a losing battle.

OP: Given the content of the first paragraph of chambersc's post, I'd take the second paragraph with a grain of salt if I were you. Not everyone has so little faith in humanity.

Is it not the case that you do actions that you think will produce the best reactions for you?