Communication students, help please?

blizzario

Communication has got to be one of the most unpredictable courses that I've ever taken. It seems like I'm forever stuck in a B+ rut. I'd go through a whole semester getting grades within the A-range for most of my assignments (if not all), and still end up getting a B+ for the entire course. I participate in class discussions regularly, so that should count for something. What am I doing wrong here? Do TAs calculate each student's overall percentage or do they look at your overall performance and decide how to grade you? Like say if a student gets A, A- ,A-, B for his assignments, does the B significantly decreases his overall percentage? Anyway, any form of help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Iran1988

I'm not sure what you mean, I have taken a few CMNS courses and have found that I get graded very fairly in terms of weight/percentage distribution for assignments, tests, papers, etc. The marking is subjective though and the TA has a lot of power over your grades - that being said your final mark is always fair as per calculations.

Aside from that, keep your head up.

blizzario

Thanks. I guess I should clarify my question.

Do CMNS TAs calculate our percentage distribution for the assignments, or do they look at our overall grades (for the assignments) before assigning us our final grade?

However, since our final mark is a fair representation of our academic performance in the course, can anyone suggest ways as to how I could maintain an A-range result for all of my CMNS assignments (essays and exams included)?

Iran1988

blizzario;64136 said:

Thanks. I guess I should clarify my question.

Do CMNS TAs calculate our percentage distribution for the assignments, or do they look at our overall grades (for the assignments) before assigning us our final grade?

However, since our final mark is a fair representation of our academic performance in the course, can anyone suggest ways as to how I could maintain an A-range result for all of my CMNS assignments (essays and exams included)?

The former, they calculate your percentage distribution. I actually asked my TA this exact question in the semester I took CMNS 110.

rkn2

I've done 8 CMNS classes and all had them done with percentage distribution.

A few ways to keep your CMNS grades up are pretty general to any other arts class advise. Go to office hours for your TA and have them really remember your name. Taking your first paper or assignment back to the TA to discuss your grade can really help you further find out what they are looking for and serve as a guide for your final paper. I find that often the tutorial participation and going to the TA personally for help can be that difference from at B+ to an A.