What to Say (and Not to Say) When Submitting Assignments Late, According to Professors
No matter how hard you try to manage your time, at some point in your academic (or professional) career, you are likely to be late for an assignment. In times of stress and panic, your first reaction may be to lie or defend. It might seem reasonable to claim that you have an emergency, or swear that you have submitted the necessary documents and have they checked the spam filter? But professors and bosses can probably tell when you’re lying, especially if it’s not the first time. Instead, it’s better to face the problem head-on. Be proactive and ask for a delay, or at least explain your lateness in a way that doesn’t ruin their opinion of you. Here’s how to do it, according to the college professors themselves.
be mature
Kim Crowley, Ph.D., who teaches English at Bismarck State College, said the first mistake a student can make when asking for an extension (or even reporting a planned absence) is being disrespectful or professional. Don’t rush by text or email. Choose your words carefully and use proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar when sending these messages, which will show that you understand that you need serious consideration. Authority figures are not your friends.
Keep in mind that while you’re worried about that one class or assignment, the professor is watching for any number of other students or colleagues who might be in similar situations, so “identifying [yourself] is a big plus,” Crowley said. Even if they recognize your name, they may not quite remember which section you are in. If you help them with this, then reduce the amount of work they have to do to help you solve your problem, which may earn you some points or at least cost you nothing.
Finally, test the program to find out what is missing. Don’t ask the professor vague questions, such as whether you missed “something important” or what you haven’t passed yet. Open the document you were given at the beginning of the semester and check the assignment schedule. Skipping this step will definitely not impress them. Instead, be direct: “I skipped [this particular assignment] because I missed class. I’m going to ship it soon, but is there anything we talked about in person I need to know first?
Know the professor’s penalties
Every professor has his own set of rules governing working late. You may even notice that older, more experienced teachers are a bit calmer after years in the business (but don’t count on it). Carl Coolange, who teaches at Suffolk Community College, said he has “softened up” over the years and doesn’t mind an assignment being delayed a day or two, but “once it’s more than a week, it starts to affect the grade.” Two weeks, then automatically 50%.
Penalties for late work are almost always marked in the syllabus, and it’s hard to fight down grades when everything is clearly written down long before homework is due. However, you can try, and if you do, Coulange recommends being honest and avoiding “bullshit excuses.”
“I always tell my students, ‘Look, if there’s a real situation and you need an extension, that’s fine, and I’ll work with you. Let’s figure out what works, but when you are silent and do not say anything, then I can not help in any way, ”he explained.
While Crowley said it’s not necessary to give a detailed explanation of why you’re missing work or classes, it can be helpful if you’re striving for the kind of honesty that Coulange recommends. If you miss a class due to a medical situation or even a stressful life event, you can pass on this information without getting personal. Try to create a shot that references the event while avoiding intimate details that might seem like an attempt to evoke sympathy.
Straightforward approach: “Professor, I missed class on Wednesday and couldn’t turn in my homework due to personal health issues. I know from the program that this will result in a 10% grade drop, which I agree with, but I wanted to let you know that the assignment is next week.” your estimate, but you can use the same approach to request an extension.
They are not your friends , but professors are people. They know what it means to be behind the times and can share resources that can help you. If you fail their lesson, it will also reflect badly on them, so they may feel it is in their best interest to show some flexibility. Give them the opportunity to do so by helping them understand why you are late and empathize with you.