How to deal with bad lecturer?

Loanranger

She has explained why she failed the assignment, poor referencing, wrong format and you agreed it was poor content when you met with her to discuss it.
Can't see any reason why you have complained to the Head of Dept except that you feel that she takes a strong line with slack students.
Knuckle down and stop submitting poor quality work.

WolfSong2000

Loanranger wrote: »

She has explained why she failed the assignment, poor referencing, wrong format and you agreed it was poor content when you met with her to discuss it.
Can't see any reason why you have complained to the Head of Dept except that you feel that she's takes a strong line with slack students.
Knuckle down and stop submitting poor quality work.

Let me clarify - her initial comments were that the content was of a very poor standard. I contested this and she eventually agreed with me. I'm not saying there wasn't room for improvement, but I was satisfied with the content I handed in. The referencing could have been improved, but she also came down on me for not using solely academic journal references. When I tried to point out that the references I had to used were just as relevant, if not more so, than journal articles, she ignored me. With regards to the format, that is her own fault for not being clear on what she wanted, which is something she is notorious for. Officially it was meant to be a field report, but she intimated she wanted an essay. I contacted her before the essay was due saying that I wanted the experience of being able to write a report as this was more relevant to my post-academic career, but that I would take her comments into consideration, which I did.

I also don't like your insinuation that I was somehow "slacking off". I was under a great deal of stress (due to personal health reasons - there was concern that I could have a very serious illness) when that assignment was due, which she was made aware of, but apparently hasn't been taken into consideration.

As I said before, my marks to date, while not "top of the class" have all been above average, including previous work for her where she's made it clear that she was after an academic essay.

bluecelticgirl

Hi there I agree with the other posters who have said you should ask if you can resubmit. I don't really see what you have to gain by doing anything else. You have stated numerous times the lecturer asked for an essay yet you deliberately chose to submit a report? I also feel she has explained why you failed to you but for some reason you cannot or will not take this on board. I know you must be a bit upset by getting a fail but try to make the best of a bad situation by asking if you can resubmit. Good luck

mountainofdebt

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

Have also contacted my class to urge them to contact him anyonymously to voice their concerns.

Sorry but to complain anyonymously is totally wrong.

If you're not prepared to stand up and be openly counted then you're only a gossip imo.

We received a compliant at work about someone but as the letter wasn't signed, we simply considered it to be malicious gossip and treated it as such.

lynzpower

leedsmodus wrote: »

why dont you have sex with her then report her for breaaching her position of trust. she gets sacked you get a new lecturer

Yeah. good one :T

*sigh*

Oldernotwiser

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

I also don't like your insinuation that I was somehow "slacking off". I was under a great deal of stress (due to personal health reasons - there was concern that I could have a very serious illness) when that assignment was due, which she was made aware of, but apparently hasn't been taken into consideration.
.

At this level of study one wouldn't expect this to be taken into account, you're not doing GCSEs you know!

I also worry about the way in which you seem to expect her to teach you; your posts and your attitude illustrate what's wrong with university study these days.

ETA. I see you hope to work in conflict resolution - this doesn't bode well for your future!

southoftheriver

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

At this level of study one wouldn't expect this to be taken into account, you're not doing GCSEs you know!

I also worry about the way in which you seem to expect her to teach you; your posts and your attitude illustrate what's wrong with university study these days.

ETA. I see you hope to work in conflict resolution - this doesn't bode well for your future!

I don't agree that personal circumstances shouldn't be taken into account at all. Of course this should be through the proper channels, submitting evidence a special considerations board. But someone doing a masters could still have adverse circumstances which impact on their ability to fulfill their potential.

FATBALLZ

Don't really have any advice but good luck with the complaint, some lecturers are absolutely appalling and shouldn't be allowed within a mile of a student. I lost 20% off one of my grades and ended up with a D in the module because of a grossly incompetent lecturer who made himself unavailable to sign off work which had been a requirement of that module. Fortunately that was in the first year and had no bearing on my final degree mark, ironically the skills used in that module are the most relevant to what I do now, and what I do exceptionally well.

He was of course readily available to go on strike when his union asked him too though.

It's a shame certain people like Loanranger are unable to admit some lecturers are useless though (although I suspect I know why). It puts much more burden on the excellent lecturers, as the students turn to the ones who are actually good at the job when they need help.

Loanranger

It's a shame certain people are so full of themselves that they resort to bragging on here to tell us that they are so useless that have actually failed modules!

melancholly

if this is a legitimate complaint, the process for complaints will be laid out in the course handbook. usually it requires going through the student rep who will go to some kind of staff-student teaching meeting, often once a term/semester. try and avoid personal insults in it as that makes it too easy to dismiss as a student who got a bad grade having a whinge!

however, there is a lot of room for one person to hate one lecturer's style while other people may like it. no one style suits all. a masters usually also has a pass mark of 50, so essentially you need a 2:2 to get a pass - a 'third' is a fail (this could have been an essay that would have scraped through at an undergrad level but isn't quite up to standard here?). decisions on marking aren't made solely by the person who marks it. there will always be a process of moderation (assuming a correct procedure has been followed) - internally and externally at the end of each year.

if there is an issue over extenuating circumstances - fill out the appropriate form and get it submitted to the committee who will review the situation. no marker on any assignment will mark anyone more leniently because of this - it will be taken into account at the end of the course when deciding the degree mark. an informal approach saying things are tricky is also not the correct way to do this.