How to Guarantee a Better Grade on Any College Paper

Earning good grades in college requires dedication, follow-through and work. Yet, there is a certain technique that a student can use to pull a teacher or professor into the paper or project. This time-honored way can easily earn at least one letter grade higher than if the technique was not used.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Create the first draft of the paper or project. Be sure it includes a beginning, middle and end and covers all the topics assigned by the teacher or professor.
2. Early in the semester or soon after the assignment is made, make an appointment to meet with the professor to discuss your assignment, then immediately send them a clean, legible double-spaced copy of the draft for review. Include a note that you'd like to discuss any preliminary feedback at the meeting.
3. At the meeting, discuss the assignment in detail. Take lots of notes on your copy that you've brought with you. The professor will read along on their copy and make notes while you make notes on your copy.
4. At the end of the meeting, request to schedule a follow-up meeting to review the inclusion of their corrections and suggestions. Sometimes they will and sometimes they won't, but the bottom line is that now you both own the grade on that paper. The will be grading not only your performance but their performance as a mentor.
5. If they agree to a second meeting, repeat Steps 3 and 4.
6. When you receive the grade for the paper, tell the professor in private how much you appreciate their help in your success. There's no need for anything fancy. Just say "Thank you for helping me be a success in my academics." It is honest well-deserved praise.

Tips & Warnings

• The draft of the paper or project you send to the professor/teacher should be well formulated and fleshed out.
• Be early for the meeting. It's best that you be waiting on them, not them waiting on you.
• As always, address your teacher or professor by "Professor" or "Doctor" where appropriate. Grant them respect and you will get it back.
• There is a fine line between pandering for a good grade and seeking honest feedback to improve your work. Stay clearly on the honest side of that line.
• Do not go into that meeting with a half-baked paper. It could make the end result a disaster. It does not have to be perfect, but it does have to be a decent attempt.