Crime and Punishment

So the first problem set of MAE 324 is due at 12:30 at the beginning of class. I have only a half-hour for lunch and I ran a few minutes late to class and with a few fellow students. I was probably less than 5 minutes late and hadn't changed a word. At first she refused to take it, but I said how much time I spent on it and how silly it would be to get no credit for being only a few minutes late. At that point she at least agreed to accept the homework, but was unsure whether she would give us credit or not.

Here's the magnanimous resolution:

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Dear Nir, Gordon, Scott, Valentin, and Michael,

While in future I will expect you to adhere to the 12:30 pm sharp deadline for homework in order for it to be fully graded, given further information and thought, we have decided to examine your homework and give you a maximum of 8 points out of 20 rather than zero.

I do not like being asked to bend the rules, as it is unfair to all the other students who manage to come on time and/or turn in homework early (i.e., playing by the rules). I will not bend the rules again, now that you fully understand my policy (even though it is clearly stated in the syllabus and was clearly stated in class). You need simply to make sure to be in class on time and turn in the homework on or before 12:30 pm as it states in the syllabus.

I expect that you will consider this to be a fair compromise, and consider yourselves duly alerted for the rest of the term.

Sincerely,
Prof. Carter

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