Once upon a time, at a college far, far away, a sophomore princess was learning the finer points of line and color in artistic works. Okay, so the princess was just me, and I was taking Art Appreciation 110. But the sophomore part is totally true.

Anyway, the professor started off the semester with, what seemed like, a pretty decent personality. But then, halfway through the semester, she became a terribly unreasonable individual. Now maybe the pod people took her, or maybe she had something really awful happen in her personal life. Either way, she became the world’s most insane grader.

I only had to take one course with her, so I was willing to overlook it, until she gave me an F on my final paper. Fifty flingin’ percent, people. Would you like to know what, aside from that particular paper, I have never, ever written? An F paper. And did I mention that every assignment I’d completed up until that point (including the rough draft of that very same paper) had been returned with a grade of 100 percent?

Oh, I didn’t? Well, now you’ve received an example of a time that it is completely appropriate to contest an unfair grade. In the event you ever find yourself in a similar position, here are a few steps to follow to make sure that you’re heading down the right path:

1. Go back through any feedback you’ve received and double (even triple) check that you followed every part of the instructions for the assignment. The last thing you want is to make a ruckus about being graded unfairly, only to find out that you didn’t follow the syllabus or rubric. Seriously, because it’ll kill your credibility.
2. Find your school’s policy on contesting grades (usually in the student handbook around where they talk about things like plagiarism), and decide if it is a battle you want to pick. If you don’t, stop here. If you do, read on.
3. Begin the process based on your school’s requirements. This typically involves approaching the subject with the professor in an attempt to solve the problem at the lowest level, or submitting a formal packet to the dean of the department in which you are experiencing issues. Even if you can go directly to the dean of the department, if your teacher is a reasonable person, I suggest meeting with them first.
4. Speaking from experience, prepare a packet defending your work whether or not you are submitting it to a department head. It is better to be over prepared than to show up at a disadvantage. This packet should have your work, the directions for the assignment and any kind of correspondence that has been exchanged between you and your professor.
5. Set an appointment with whomever you are going to speak to, whether it is your professor or the dean of the department. When that appointment time comes, make sure you are on time (or even a bit early) and dressed like someone who deserves a better grade than the one they’ve received.

Tally ho! Now you’re ready to go forth and defend your assignment’s honor!