Some things that you find are beyond your control
A couple of weeks ago, for one of my classes we had to create personas related to our research, which meant that we were to go out and conduct live interviews with people and compile their data into 2-3 demographic profiles of who might be interested in our projects.
Here's the thing. My project is on the effects of technology on homiletics--basically, how do pastors use technology? So my personas would center around pastors. Which would mean that I'd need to talk to pastors, who are overworked and underpaid as a rule. Also, the people I specifically wanted to talk to all lived in different areas.
So... I cheated a little. I talked to a couple of my church's pastors, and had some others fill out an online survey and filled in extra details from memory. Which is technically not what the prof wanted. Not that he'd know, right? Only problem is, the day after we turned the personas in, a classmate reminded me that we also had a reflection piece due. Better late than never, right? I quickly wrote one up--and was actually honest about my methodologies--and emailed it to my prof, who a few days later emailed me back and said he had, indeed, received it.
We finally got our grades back today. I got 185/200. I think my grade was that low for one reason and one alone. I quote:
I didn't see your reflection statement, but the connection between the course themes and your project is clear, and the nuanced profiles indicate a solid level of data collection.
Which, of course, is hilarious, because in my reflection, I actually stated that my methods for data collection were not what he wanted. I think I got docked those 15 points solely because of the lack 'o' reflection. So I'm faced with a decision: do I remind him that I actually *did* the reflection or not? If I don't, my grade stands, and if I nail the final two assignments for the course I should maintain a 3.5 GPA (the program's requirements, though I don't think they'd actually boot me out if I dipped marginally lower). If I remind him that he actually *did* get my reflection, I may regain those 15 points--or he might dock me for poor data collection methods. My personal inclination is to call it even, but any thoughts?
Here's the thing. My project is on the effects of technology on homiletics--basically, how do pastors use technology? So my personas would center around pastors. Which would mean that I'd need to talk to pastors, who are overworked and underpaid as a rule. Also, the people I specifically wanted to talk to all lived in different areas.
So... I cheated a little. I talked to a couple of my church's pastors, and had some others fill out an online survey and filled in extra details from memory. Which is technically not what the prof wanted. Not that he'd know, right? Only problem is, the day after we turned the personas in, a classmate reminded me that we also had a reflection piece due. Better late than never, right? I quickly wrote one up--and was actually honest about my methodologies--and emailed it to my prof, who a few days later emailed me back and said he had, indeed, received it.
We finally got our grades back today. I got 185/200. I think my grade was that low for one reason and one alone. I quote:
I didn't see your reflection statement, but the connection between the course themes and your project is clear, and the nuanced profiles indicate a solid level of data collection.
Which, of course, is hilarious, because in my reflection, I actually stated that my methods for data collection were not what he wanted. I think I got docked those 15 points solely because of the lack 'o' reflection. So I'm faced with a decision: do I remind him that I actually *did* the reflection or not? If I don't, my grade stands, and if I nail the final two assignments for the course I should maintain a 3.5 GPA (the program's requirements, though I don't think they'd actually boot me out if I dipped marginally lower). If I remind him that he actually *did* get my reflection, I may regain those 15 points--or he might dock me for poor data collection methods. My personal inclination is to call it even, but any thoughts?