Just got my lowest ever assignment score; feel crappy and stupid.

[ChocolateRockingHorse]

It was the one I wrote on this thread. I actually thought it was fairly ok.. if not a little bit, well, good.

I got 52% I have never got lower than 63% before and that was a while ago! This is my first Level 3 (with the OU) but I have a feeling my tutor just doesn't "get" the way I write; I certainly don't get where he's coming from in his many, varied and waffley group emails he sends and even in the one face-to-face tutorial we've had.

I feel so crap. Over-reaction may be, but I do and I need to get over it and go onwards and upwards (clearly I need to go upwards with a percentage like that!)

He has commented in the vein of.. "...what a pity but you lost you way a bit with this essay..", "...you did not address the second part of the question properly...", "..I felt that you did not plan this one as well as you did the first essay..", "..You are beginning to move away from the substance of the essay title here..", "...Where is part [2] of the essay question represented.?.."

I have actually emailed him - not sure if this is the "done thing" (ie to argue - even constructively - with a tutor!) but he has included some questions in his masacre-ing feeding back of my essay so I thought I would address them. Otherwise what's the point of him asking them? Also do rather disagee with the point about not addressing the second half of the question. I didn't do it one chunk.. I did it throughout. There is nothing in guidance notes to suggest you CAN'T do it this way! I have sent a copy of the essay back with coloured **s pointing out what I feel are my (crap obviously) attempts at addressing the second half of the question.

Sigh. Someone tell me I can do this. Because at the moment I (melodramatically probably) feel that all my plans for the future (and that of my family who NEED me to get a good job on the strength of this degree I'm working towards) are going down the pan.

Can someone please tell me I can do this. Because I just need to hear it. And then I'll fuck off. Promise.

Okkay, I'll fuck off anyway

You can absolutely do this.

Thank you SOH

Hey CRH, this sounds like such a dispiriting experience for you. I am just about to submit my PhD and know just where you're coming from. I've also got fair bit of experience in lecturing and marking student essays (though not for OU) and to be fair it sounds as if your tutor has tried to be constructive and helpful. I am sure they would be happy to correspond more about where your approach could help you do a better job of it next time round. Tutors usually (well, except the mean ones) really welcome dialogue with students and appreciate the people who bother to read their (the tutor's) comments. You'd be amamzed the number of students who barely even read them, just register the mark and move on. You will obviously succeed because you are taking it so seriously and have a really good attitude, even if you are feeling downhearted about it down. Good luck!

btw, I think you should be really honest and polite with your tutor: explain that you feel really disappointed and surprised by the mark and you really don't want to make the same mistakes again. Perhaps s/he could recommend some resources for guidance to get you back on the right track, that sort of thing.

Thanks Peas. I did all of those things you suggest and wasn't rude. Did admit to feeling upset and discouraged and worried about the next essay.. and concerned I am "struggling" with Level 3 even though I don't feel as it I am with the actual course materials.

Am waiting with baiting breath.

Feel a bit bothered about fact I thought it was "good" . How could I be so off track?! I am a year 4 (of 6) student!

Oh it's such a horrible feeling isn't it? I remember tears pricking my eyes meeting a lovely tutor to receive a not quite up to usual standard essay! He pointed it out that it didn't impact upon my final mark so that all that was at stake was my pride! (He was being nice) How does this assignment affect your final mark? Btw, I think that everyone has blips - you can still be a good student and go a bit off message sometimes. I remember one of my A'level tutors predicted my marks would be A/fail, "depending on how you're feeling on the day!"
That's enough sentences starting "I remember..."! I sound like my Gran!

I always want to ask my tutor which part of my essay I could have missed out, as they always mention other things I could have put in, and I'm never more than 10 words under the limit

I never do though.

I don't think htere's anything wrong in asking for a bit more guidance.

What course are you doing?

Me - DD307 Social Psychology

Hi chocolate - another PhD student and part-time lecturer here. Firstly, whilst you are not happy with your mark - it is not that low. I sometimes received very low marks in my undergrad studies, and I would arrange a meeting with the tutor to receive more feedback on the mark. I have been marking recently and I always tell the students to send in a plan of the work they will be writing so I can see if they are going along the right lines - is this something you could do? Please try not to be dishearted - even the strongest students have off marks sometimes - the thing is to learn from the comments and utilise them for any subsequent work. Good Luck xx

It's KE308, Youth: Perspectives and Practice as part of my Childhood and Youth Studies degree.

Thank you for the comments. I really appreciate them.

Hi CRH, I've been a bit of a perpetual student in the past - would like to suggest that (once you've got all the input you can from your tutor) you put the essay away and don't look at it again for at least 2 months. Then have a look and see what you think of it. I used to do this with my first efforts at writing for (journal) publication, and it was seriously helpful. I never could see how my writing could be different until I could come to it 'fresh'. Don't let one mark that you don't like get you down - I've got everything from a fail to a PhD in my time! You can do it!

I remember feeling like this last year when I handed in my professional development portfolio. I spent the majority of the year supporting everyone else, showing them how to link it all up, where the best places were to put things all because I was getting it 'right' throughout the year. However, when I handed it in for submission and received it back, I scored 60% and like you, felt it was a poor reflection of the work I had actually put into it. I mean, how hard can it be actually writing about yourself?

When I read through the comments initially, I felt cheated but instead of doing anything about it, I let it go. I then re-read the comments recently and could really see the difference between last years and this years. I am handing in this years one today and although I don't expect it to do well, I do expect it to be better than last year, because I looked at the comments and thought of the things I needed to do to get the better grade.

Don't be disheartened. It is hard work but it is only one grade and by meeting with your tutor, I'm sure you'll be able to learn from it.

You can do this. I said to myself so many times that I couldn't and even considered giving it all up at one point, but I am now at the end of mine and as long as I get 40% (a pass) I'll be happy.

Oh feck and bollox my tutor just rang while I was out. DH answered, gave him my mobile number (!) and told him I'd be back in a minute. He has not rung back.

Oh arse!! I don't want to talk to him!! Email does me fine!!!

He rang me when I was driving.. could hear I was driving (on phone via blue tooth) and said "I'll ring you at home tomorrow evening if that's ok, as I think we have more to discuss than can be done while you're driving!"

Feck.

As an Ex OU level 3 tutor I hope things are improving. One of my ex students (Grade 2 pass person) did your course after mine (EK310- wonderful course but then I would say that wouldn't I!!) and found she had problems getting decent marks in the first few TMA's. She thought it was because it was such a practical focused course and it took her time to get the gist of it.

Level 3 course can take some getting used to and often the weighting for earlier tma;s is less to reflect this.

Keep talking to your tutor and believe in yourself!!