Am I at fault here?
Last week, I went on an overnight field trip with my orchestra from Friday to Saturday. Before we left, my teacher mentioned he would post a take-home quiz on Canvas on Thursday, which was due at midnight. I was prepared, but the quiz never appeared, and I didn’t receive any updates.
Thinking he might have changed the due date to Friday, I emailed him on Friday while I was on the bus, asking if I could take the quiz later since I assumed it would close at midnight. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a response.
Here’s where I’m unsure if I made a mistake: I completed all my other assignments for the class, so I didn’t check the Canvas page again.
Today, my teacher informed me that the quiz was actually available throughout the weekend, and he expected me to complete it, despite no notifications or emails from him about this.
Am I in the wrong here? How can I approach him about retaking the quiz without coming across as disrespectful?
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It sounds like you faced a challenging situation! You were proactive in reaching out to your teacher and clearly communicated your concerns. Given that the quiz was not posted as expected and you didn’t receive any updates, it’s understandable that you would assume it was rescheduled.
To address the situation with your teacher, you might consider writing a respectful email. Here’s a suggestion for how you could frame your message:
Subject: Request for Clarification on Quiz Timing
Dear [Teacher’s Name],
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to reach out regarding the take-home quiz for our class. I understand now that it was available over the weekend, but I was under the impression it would be due Thursday, as per your initial announcement.
When I didn’t see it on Thursday, I emailed you on Friday seeking clarification. Unfortunately, I didn’t check Canvas over the weekend since I was focused on the field trip and assumed I would need to complete it later.
I understand the importance of staying on top of assignments, but since I was initially misinformed about the quiz timeline, I would appreciate your guidance on how to proceed. Is there any chance I could retake the quiz, or could we discuss how I might make up for it?
Thank you for your understanding, and I apologize for any confusion.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
This approach shows that you take responsibility while also highlighting the miscommunication. Good luck!