collegian987

For one of my classes, we have to short answer a prompt question and then our answer is graded by pier classmates, and essentially our grades our determined by what our other classmates think of our answers to the question. This is actually an Economics class. I feel like I am being discriminated against because my classmates are giving me lower grades because they disagree with me politically. I am more libertarian, which means I am more conservative than I am liberal, which I get the feeling the most of my classmates are much more liberal than I am. Do you think I have the right to appeal some of the grades I am receiving on the basis that they are grading me more for my political responses than for the content and direct answer to the question? I have never before had a class where the other students determine your grade rather than the professor.

lookingforward

Often, the solution is to answer based on your knowledge of the various economic theories, the thinking of the great minds and practitioners- a fair and well-considered weighing, setting aside your own opinions or political preferences or what you, a student, think is right or best.

collegian987

The questions are very open-ended. For example, one question asked "What do you personally think about the U.S. trade deficit? and what do you think the U.S. should do about it?" These are very opinion based questions, where one cannot help but show some politics in the answers because it is a question of "What do you personally think" rather than there being a right or wrong answer or needing to have knowledge of or reference various economic theories or anything like that.

lookingforward

In many cases, this isn't meant as a chance to promote your own beliefs in themselves- as you might in an argument with friends. Sometimes, you have to ask yourself, do they reallly want to know what I personally think? (On a test?) Or do they want to see how I structure my answer and make it academically sound, incorporate the info presented in class and readings?

GoalsOriented

Maybe you should ask the professor to explain to you how the good grades others are getting are justified and how the bad grades you are getting are justified. See if he can identify a correctable non-content basis on which you are getting bad grades. If there is not such a basis, or you correct the problem if there is one, and you still get bad grades - you absolutely have the right to object to your final course grade if these grades actually make a difference. However, make sure they do - I always thought it was really silly when people got angry at professors for an unjust grade that in the end had no effect on their course grade.

OminousRun

Must be a class full of Keynesian Economic students. It's no wonder they disagree with your more Austrian Economic or Free Market views. There are plenty of libertarian economic professors and departments at various schools across the country, you might want to hook up with a more friendly crowd.