<p>It seems to be a fact of life that every semester, there will be at least one student in every class that does not turn in the assigned paper on time. In my classes (college juniors and seniors), the final paper counts for 25 percent of their semester grade. So, out of 25 points, what is a fair system for deducting points for a late paper? And this paper assignment is explained in detail in the syllabus, which is distributed at the very beginning of the semester.</p>
<p>My poiicy is to deduct one third of a letter grade for each day late; i.e. if a B+ paper is one day late, it gets a B. An A paper becomes an A-. However, I also state this policy in my syllabus so that students are aware of it. I also use an electronic dropbox that is open for two days (one day before and one day after the “due date”), so students who fail to submit by the time the dropbox closes are categorically “late.” Students generally appreciate the flexibility of submission that the dropbox affords; but students who cannot get the assignment in by the time the dropbox closes do get penalized.</p>
<p>Here is the system which one of my professors used: </p>
<p>"…there will be a 20% penalty per day that your homework is late, so if you turn in your homework one day late and it is complete, you will receive 80% of your “credit” for that assignment. After 4 days, you will not be able to receive any credit."</p>
<p>A letter grade for every day late. My grandmother died about a week and half before college ended one year. I was gone for several days and cried for about two weeks straight. I was granted a waver to make it up but that was the only time I was ever late.</p>
<p>Honestly, as long as the penalties are stated ahead of time, I think anything is “fair”. I’ve had classes that ranged from “will not accept after due date” to “one grade per day”. </p>
<p>(Obviously there are exceptions on a case-by-case basis such as in the case of the above poster.)</p>
<p>What is fair? Well first of all, I think students should adhere to deadlines and plan ahead. MOST professors have the penalty for late work in their syllabus. To be frank, whatever they choose to do is “fair”. </p>
<p>The smart thing to do is NOT miss deadlines.</p>
<p>A bit more info: My policy, similar to Bunsen’s professor’s, is to deduct 5 points for every day a paper is late. Since the total points for the paper is 25, students “fail” the assignment after the second day. Students tell me that this policy is harsh - according to them at least, “almost all” professors have a policy similar to Sue’s, which counts off “a step” for each day late. </p>
<p>In the grand scheme of things it probably doesn’t matter what the particular policy is - most students will turn things in on time and a few students will not, regardless of the policy.</p>
<p>Of course students need to plan ahead, but I think there can be exceptions to the rule. In the unusual case where a student has a documented illness, death in the family or emergency and has been as proactive as possible about keeping in touch with the professor, I think an extension should be granted without penalty. Planning ahead is one thing, compassion and totally unforeseen circumstances are another.</p>
<p>Edit - I see this has been addressed already and I agree.</p>
<p>Most Professors/HS teachers I’ve had would officially deduct 1/3 of a letter grade for each day it’s late.* A few Profs would deduct 1 full letter grade for each day late. </p>
<p>Worse deduction I saw was from one HS English teacher who took off 30/100 points for a classmate’s paper which was two days late without a valid emergency excuse. What was a 95/100 paper became a 65/100 paper. Yep…it went from an A to a D in 2 days. Despite his whining, teacher held her ground especially since she clearly stated this from the first day of class and told him “Punctuality counts.”.</p>
<ul>
<li>In practice, the Profs at my LAC with the 1/3 of a letter grade deduction tend to grant extensions for classmates for even the most minor/dubious reasons. As long as one asks for an extension…you don’t even need to worry about the penalty kicking in…unless you didn’t give in the paper by the extended deadline.</li>
</ul>
<p>IMO, “fairness” should be consistent with the subject matter of the class. For example, if the class in question is Patent Law, then it is fair to give 0 points for a critical assignment submitted one day late - to illustrate the consequences of missing certain deadlines when dealing with the Patent Office. If it is Microeconomics, then the use of “one letter grade a day” discount rate is fine and fair. :)</p>
<p>Ame, I don’t think that policy is harsh at all. As a college junior or senior, you should be able to stick to a deadline. Really, it’s not hard. </p>
<p>I’ve had probably about 25% of my classes not accept after the deadline (though most profs will work with you if you’re not just blowing it off), 50% do a grade deduction per day, and another 25% take a percent off per day (usually around 10% but others as much as 50% after the deadline and not acceptable after a day late). </p>
<p>As a humanities major, most of my grades are paper-based rather than test-based. I’ve honestly never heard a student gripe about a late policy.</p>
<p>ETA…of course there are extenuating circumstances (family death, serious illness, etc). In most cases, a student would deal not only directly with the professor, but also their advisor and dean of students in the event of a death or serious illness that prevented completion of work. That is VERY different than simply missing a deadline date for work completion which is usually clearly stated in the syllabus for the course.</p>
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<p>Seems like great preparation for the “real world”…</p>
<p>I’m way too lax and don’t typically take off for late work. Students will hurt themselves enough in other ways. Obviously, once I’ve turned in the semester grades, I won’t grade any additional work.</p>
<p>Your best bet may be to do a step-wise penalty: one out of 25 points for an hour late, 2/25 for two hours late, 3/25 for three hours late, then five hours to 24 hours is the entire five points. I have no idea why it is “harsh” to fail someone who hands in a paper two days late, absent some explanation or some advance discussion about moving the deadline.</p>
<p>I would provide info about whatever you decide on penalties for tardiness listed clearly in the assignment so they cannot argue it was not received.</p>
<p>Wow. Even in high school, most teachers I had would not accept late work for major assignments except on rare circumstances usually communicated PRIOR to the deadline (reasonable approved extension requests)</p>
<p>My college marks on a percentage, not letter grade, basis. In essay based subjects it is all but impossible to get above ~78%, and anything over 60% is great. </p>
<p>Anyway, if we hand in an essay late, then we lose 10% of the grade for the essay for the first day, and 5% for subsequent days eg an essay that would normally receive 75% and was 2 days late would actually receive 60%</p>
<p>I only allow late work to come in one day late for half credit. The exception is when someone can present documentable extreme circumstances and that’s my discretion. As I invoke the penalty, I make sure to communicate to students that it’s a fairness issue to their fellow classmates who have abided by syllabus policy. I also emphasize the importance of communicating with me in a timely manner about issues that come up as assignments come due. If they would contact an employer to tell them they have a family emergency, illness, etc. and can’t come to work, I feel it is only reasonable to expect them to send me a short e-mail detailing the same information and allowing us to start a conversation about an adjusted due date. It allows me to remind them to bring their medical excuse or other necessary documentation and to set a new due date.</p>