I got a C on the final term paper after putting about 8 hours into it, so it came out a lot better than I was expecting and I made out with the first B I've had in years. It felt great to see that I did so well and was considering sending the prof a thank-you email for giving me such a good grade when I didn't deserve it. I also don't want him to even think about going back to the paper and reanalyzing the thing, but it's obvious I didn't put the required amount of sweat into the damn thing. How to word the email?

I'm gonna beat y'all to it so you can jump straight to answering my question: I'm clumsy, I'm insane, I'm ugly, I'm wacko, I'm retarded. If I missed anything, I'll be counting on you to fill in the blank. >.<

12/13/2006 9:20:53 PM

I think this is how most people get through college and would require no thank you letter/email

[Edited on December 13, 2006 at 9:27 PM. Reason : k]

12/13/2006 9:27:32 PM

not putting any time/effort into papers/hw and getting good/decent grades is what college is all about!

12/13/2006 9:35:36 PM

Here's what I've got so far:

Quote :

"Dr. Ben-Fitzgibbon: I was pleasantly surprised at my term paper and final grades, and thank you for a challenging and fulfilling semester. I was on Academic Probation this past summer due to stress-related problems and have worked harder than I have in quite a while this past semester. Thank you for your crystal clear delivery in class lectures and patience in grading. Thanks again for a marvellous semester, Stephanie"

Too swarmy?

12/13/2006 10:04:44 PM

don't do it- just thank him in your private thoughts


Right off the bat you say you are "surprised" by your grade and that negates just about everything that follows it.

12/13/2006 10:08:20 PM

ORLY? I meant to say the good grade was a surprise, and that I started off with a lot of pressure from the university to clean my grades up so that's really why I did so well.

Which isn't the choicest thing to say to a prof but I'm just being honest.

12/13/2006 10:11:28 PM

just go talk to them

12/13/2006 10:42:03 PM

I can't, he's hot.

12/13/2006 10:50:52 PM

shøw him yøur titties

12/13/2006 10:52:44 PM

Don't do it. It's best to be but a random face in the crowd in school.

12/13/2006 10:57:28 PM

maybe in 20 years, he will be old enough for you to thank him with a date.

12/13/2006 11:15:31 PM

Quote :

"not putting any time/effort into papers/hw and getting good/decent grades is what college is all about! "

you have no idea what college is all about

12/13/2006 11:39:43 PM

if your grades are already posted, it doesnt matter...It takes an act of congress or something to have it changed.

12/14/2006 9:38:44 AM

^^^ pwnt

[Edited on December 14, 2006 at 9:51 AM. Reason : ]

12/14/2006 9:50:58 AM

nothing wrong with thanking someone for an outstanding class

but i wouldn't bring up the grade

12/14/2006 10:03:39 AM

Well, I wasn't asking him to bring up the grade, I was just hoping I wouldn't trigger a DOWNgrade so to speak...

12/14/2006 10:14:06 AM

haha this is hilarious

Quote :

"ending the prof a thank-you email for giving me such a good grade when I didn't deserve it"

12/14/2006 10:52:41 AM

you would have to be retarded to do this...

seriously, what do you think he will think after you thank him for giving you a good grade for the first time in a while after you've been on academic probation?

12/14/2006 11:58:27 AM

For damn sure don't tell him you were surprised, I mean that basically saying, 'Hey I totally didn't expect to get this grade and really don't deserve it!!'

12/14/2006 12:23:58 PM

If you really want to thank somebody, do it in person. Let the issue settle over the holidays and when you come back, if you still feel inclined to speak with him/her, go to their office hours and talk with them about last semester. Review assignments, tests, etc. and you can ask the question sometime in between.

12/14/2006 1:22:54 PM

Quote :

"but i wouldn't bring up the grade"

I don't think he meant "bring up" the grade as in asking for a higher one,

but don't bring it up in the email, as in- there's no need to mention it.

what are you expecting out of sending this email? just thank him for the class if you want to but i doubt a professor wants to hear they've given you a grade you don't deserve

12/14/2006 3:57:19 PM

i think its fine to send an email thanking the prof for a class that you really enjoyed

i wouldn't bring up the grade or the academic probation

but there is never anything wrong with a genuine compliment

12/14/2006 8:27:21 PM

Here's a question- would you still be sending the prof a compliment if you made a C or D in the class?

Quote :

"nothing wrong with thanking someone for an outstanding class"

I mean was the class really that spectacular- because frankly it seems like what you've written is more about you and your situation and how you relieved you are for getting a break rather than how intellectually stimulating or thought provoking the class was.

Just being devil's advocate.

[Edited on December 14, 2006 at 9:41 PM. Reason : cc]

12/14/2006 9:37:40 PM

Quote :

"i wouldn't bring up the grade or the academic probation but there is never anything wrong with a genuine compliment "

agreed.

12/14/2006 9:43:03 PM

Quote :

"I mean was the class really that spectacular- because frankly it seems like what you've written is more about you and your situation and how you relieved you are for getting a break rather than how intellectually stimulating or thought provoking the class was"

More for the latter.

I've thanked a prof for a class that I even got an F in, it's just something I do when I really enjoy a class - I think they'd like to know that at least one student really got something out of it even if they bailed at the end.

12/15/2006 10:13:20 AM

Quote :

"I've thanked a prof for a class that I even got an F in"

and

Quote :

"I was on Academic Probation this past summer due to stress-related problems and have worked harder than I have in quite a while this past semester"

graduate and quit wasting my tax dollar

12/16/2006 5:18:34 PM