Group Projects. Why I shouldn't get a bad grade when I did all the work?

Question

I'm a student, getting my Bachelor Degree in Computer Science. Recently, we just had a group project that was worth 45% of our overall grade, however my peers did not pull their weight. For the past two years, I've done nothing but live and breathe my school. I've never had anything other than an A in any of my classes. Until now. In the event that I don't get an "A" in this class, because my peers failed (not myself), I would like help coming up with an argument as to why I deserve a better grade. Here are the facts regarding the project:

- We did not get to choose groups. There were only three of us total, so just one group for this particular class.
- We had a week and a half (10 days, including the weekend) to do the project, from preproduction to final delivery.
- We had to design an application. The group decided on an MP3 desktop playlist widget. I love to do both code and design. However, I chose to do the back-end development for the project, because I had little faith that either of my peers could do this.
- "Jane" was assigned to be the designer. That was it. She was to design the visual interface of the application, create the assets, and a deployment website. I gave her several links to inspiration, and other successful applications. She was quick to criticize their design, however produced aesthetics that in one word, I would describe as "garbage". When I offered critique, she proceeded to do her own thing and wasn't receptive at all.
- "John" was assigned to be the front-end developer. He was in charge of coding the functionality of the user interface. Buttons, data visualization, etc. He did one thing: The carousel. Not because he was a freeloader, but because he never learned the material and struggles with code in general.

As a result, I had to do all of the back-end coding, pulling information from JSON and ID3 tags, displaying it on the front end, coding the functionality of the buttons and other UI elements. By the end of it all, the whole project was essentially botched.

"John" asked me what I thought of the project at the very end. And I told him I thought it was awful. If a client had hired us to do this, we would be fired. It's not up to standards, and frankly I was embarrassed.

The teacher told me, "If your general opinion is negative, then keep it to yourself."

I don't feel like my opinion is negative, not in the least. It's realistic. Other instructors and students might let their peers down gently, but what's the point? A client will do no such thing.

If you're curious as to what was offered, versus my standards:

Link to the project:
http://artofliz.com/audiophile/

Link to my personal portfolio:
http://lrroberts0122.github.io/WSP/project/portfolio.html

Any ideas on how to go about presenting this argument? Thanks for the advice.

Answer 1

I totally understand how you feel!

I had one class, and I was assigned to a "special" group. They were American, and I am foreign. So, the grade consisted of the tests, group project, a group game (strategic management game), and a final presentation. So, I was making all of the decisions in the game alone (about 4 hours a day) and they were supposed to write a report (about 25-30 pages). So, I assigned them what has to do what. And they were very late starting it. So, 1 week before the report is due, I collect what they`ve done and it was SHOCKING. All of them had grammatical mistakes in every sentence. I tried to correct everything, but got angry in the middle of the night and tore all of their papers. So, I wrote 26 pages all by myself. When they saw it, they asked me: why didn`t I include their work in the report, this is not fair. I just answered: because what you wrote is a piece of sh*t lol

Also, during the game, when I was doing everything they were like: "I am so bored..." and actually I wasn`t a volunteer to make the decisions, you know... lol

When time came to get ready for the presentation. We scheduled a meeting and 1 girls was in time, the second one was 20 mins late, and the last one was 1 hour late, and when she came she said: 20 mins and I am gone, I have to drive home which is 30 mins away. So, she left before we actually assigned what everyone will be saying. I cursed a few times as well that time....

The other groups told the professor that I am doing all by myself, they were actually suggesting me help. The professor came to me and asked:

-I heard your did everything on your own and your group didn`t do anything

-If it is so, will you give me a better grade? (she unfairly gave me a C lol. 3 mistakes in a 26 page paper - 15 points. Forgot the dollar signs on 3 the graph scales -15 points. Not on the graphs themselves, just where you usually put x and y...) and P.S. I don`t study in Harvard lol MS

-No, I won`t change your grade

-No, we were doing everything with the whole group.

I had another fun class with her. I knew something was wrong with her grading my papers cause I sometimes write articles for the school`s newspaper... So, I copy pasted an article from Wall Street Journal. 100% plagiarism without exaggerating. Got a 70 because she found mistakes in the Wall Street Journal article lol



The next trimester. I was assigned to a group, and I thought it`s supposed to be fine. Two girls, one ball player. So, the black girl decides she`s gonna be the boss. Ok, fine. She assigns us what to do. Everyone does a good job, but she flops everything. Misspells the name of the chart we were working on, misspells the name of the ball player on our group.

One early morning at 5 AM. I receive a message: we meet up in the library at 8 AM. I honestly was like: wtf, seriously? So, i texted her: sorry, can`t come. I have to go to work. Next day: I see a 0 for my participation grade. The ball guy didnt come either (she texted us at 5AM about a meeting at 8 0_o) So, I texted her:

-why didnt you list me as present? You sent me a message at 5 AM and you didnt check if i can actually be present.

-It`s not my problem.

- What do you mean it`s not your problem? A half of a group doesn`t show up because of you suddenly scheduling a meeting and you couldn`t mark us as present. It`s not big of a deal. We would have done work anyways.

- Not my business. It`s your own problem. dot



So, the next thing was: I am calling her, yelling, but mostly cursing for 5 mins.

Next thing I know: I have a meeting with the Dean because threatening a student. Consequence: I am on my own in this class, and another time I talk to the girl or anything- she is taking it to the court.

So, I had to write another 30 pages by myself, do all the other work, and make a 20 min presentation on my own. I made an A though; they got a D. Total flop....



Hope my story will make you feel better and you will smile now that you re not alone :)



and P.S.: welcome to a shitty school lol

Answer 2

Your teacher knows there will be strengths and weaknesses. He should also know that some folks will do the bare minimum to say they helped.



I feel your pain. Have been there but Immediately upon realizing that my team mates were waiting until the last minute, I would tell the professor that my team mates where not doing anything and I'm having to do it myself. (And I would turn in my own damn project)



Now, the difference is I was doing this all online... if you are in a real life project situation and get to see your team mates... That's a different story. Being part of a team is the the project... working well with others is part of the project.



Your work will shine since you did the back end work... when the professor looks at the code... he'll see who did what. (you did document it... right)



The interface isn't that bad, though I don't like that the play and pause show on the center button.



The best policy is to go talk to the professor, express your concerns and see what happens.

Answer 3

What you are experiencing is common in group projects, it is one reason they are assigned, to show the difficulties and problems involved in working in a group.



In my class our teacher gave us 2 grades, one for the project as a whole and one for our own efforts in the project. We had to rate the other group members work on the project.



As far as what you should tell the teacher about the project, I agree that saying it is 'garbage' is not polite nor is it that helpful. It would be best to be more clear about what you think is wrong with the project. Say things like 'I think the interface could have been better'. 'I think the functionality could be improved'. Offer suggestions on how the project could have been done better.

Answer 4

Some more information required