Freethought & Rationalism Archive

winstonjen · 07-21-2003, 07:15 PM

I can't stand it. For 95% of my subjects, I have had to complete group projects. Last semester I even had to do all the work on my own, because my incompetent group members sent back some 'contributions' (which only happened about 2 days before it was due) that had to be completely Revamped.

So these are my questions: Don't these people have any guilt at all that they're causing other people to concentrate on one subject and abandon the rest?

How can I deal with this in the future? I have already asked about doing group assignments in a group of 1, they told me I probably wasn't going to be allowed.

Vandrare · 07-21-2003, 07:20 PM

a friend of mine had exactly the same problem. in the end she spoke to the lecturer and managed to at least get an extension so she could finish all the work.

have you spoken to the lecturers at all?

winstonjen · 07-21-2003, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vandrare
have you spoken to the lecturers at all?

Yup, and the essentially say, "That's your problem." Interestingly, the teacher said that he did not give our groups any 'pity marks', and we still ended up with about 85% for that assignment.

Vandrare · 07-21-2003, 07:51 PM

well at least you know your work is good!

winstonjen · 07-21-2003, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vandrare
well at least you know your work is good!

All it does is encourage more people to join my group in future subjects and get me to do the work. Perhaps I should fake my own death to scare them a little.

Maybe this should be in the Secular Lounge as this thread doesn't seem to deal with morality too much.

catalyst · 07-21-2003, 08:21 PM

I hated that as well. Lack of responsiveness on behalf of the faculty to problems such as these was one of the reasons why I did not continue on directly to my Ph. D.

Is there anyone else that you can talk to, such as a dean, department head, etc.?

Calzaer · 07-21-2003, 08:48 PM

I had the same problem. It took a potentially big sacrifice on my part to solve it.

It was the third time in one class that I'd been saddled with all the work. I spoke to the professor, then informed my group in no uncertain terms that I refused to do any work other than putting together the work they did into an acceptable format. I signed up to be the formatter, so all I was going to do was format, period.

They didn't believe me.

We ended up with a 25/100 (and 15 of those points were from a perfect formatting score.

I haven't had that problem since... but the best part was, since I talked to the professor beforehand, I got to do an individual research project to make up for my impending bad group project grade. So I ended up with a B, while those other dumb bastards had to struggle just to pass the class after that incident (and I think at least one of them failed).

Of course, I admit not all professors are that cool (and hate freeloaders that much).

Sometimes, tho, the only solution is to let people reap the consequences for their own actions.

kkholiday · 07-21-2003, 10:03 PM

As an engineering major, I faced tons of group projects in college as well. I've been in groups where I had to do all the work and where it was split pretty equally. Anyway, looking back, I realize that those times when I was in groups where the other members weren't pulling their weight is what prepared me the most for the workplace. That's how real life is. Not everyone tries as hard as you want them too. It sucks, but you have to expect that.

A good manager has to work with the other group members and get as much out of them as he can get, even if it means dragging it out of them.

keyser_soze · 07-21-2003, 10:25 PM

I wish I had been willing to sacrifice my gpa to serve the point. I didn't and had quite a number of instances where my group did 0% of the work, and would slap each other on the back when a high mark came back. I talked to the dean(a good friend) my senior year, and since he was over 4 of my classes professors, they already knew what was going on before it even began. Whoever did work, I noted in the final formatted work, and grades were given accordingly. Those who refused to work, got failing marks on the research. No slackers tried to get into my group by next semester. I felt bad about it, but I got tired of doing 4 or 5 people's work on two projects at the same time. If only I had known it could be done in my junior year, it would have helped tremendously.

contracycle · 07-22-2003, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kkholiday
Anyway, looking back, I realize that those times when I was in groups where the other members weren't pulling their weight is what prepared me the most for the workplace. That's how real life is. Not everyone tries as hard as you want them too. It sucks, but you have to expect that.

Right on. When I had this problem, my lecturers just said "too bad - thats the way it is". That said it can suck if you have to carry the can.

07-21-2003, 07:15 PM	#1
winstonjen Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,425	University Group Assignments and Freeloading I can't stand it. For 95% of my subjects, I have had to complete group projects. Last semester I even had to do all the work on my own, because my incompetent group members sent back some 'contributions' (which only happened about 2 days before it was due) that had to be completely Revamped. So these are my questions: Don't these people have any guilt at all that they're causing other people to concentrate on one subject and abandon the rest? How can I deal with this in the future? I have already asked about doing group assignments in a group of 1, they told me I probably wasn't going to be allowed.

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07-21-2003, 07:20 PM	#2
Vandrare Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brisneyland Posts: 854	a friend of mine had exactly the same problem. in the end she spoke to the lecturer and managed to at least get an extension so she could finish all the work. have you spoken to the lecturers at all?

07-21-2003, 07:51 PM	#4
Vandrare Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brisneyland Posts: 854	well at least you know your work is good!

07-21-2003, 08:21 PM	#6
catalyst Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 6,158	I hated that as well. Lack of responsiveness on behalf of the faculty to problems such as these was one of the reasons why I did not continue on directly to my Ph. D. Is there anyone else that you can talk to, such as a dean, department head, etc.?

07-21-2003, 08:48 PM	#7
Calzaer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,762	I had the same problem. It took a potentially big sacrifice on my part to solve it. It was the third time in one class that I'd been saddled with all the work. I spoke to the professor, then informed my group in no uncertain terms that I refused to do any work other than putting together the work they did into an acceptable format. I signed up to be the formatter, so all I was going to do was format, period. They didn't believe me. We ended up with a 25/100 (and 15 of those points were from a perfect formatting score. I haven't had that problem since... but the best part was, since I talked to the professor beforehand, I got to do an individual research project to make up for my impending bad group project grade. So I ended up with a B, while those other dumb bastards had to struggle just to pass the class after that incident (and I think at least one of them failed). Of course, I admit not all professors are that cool (and hate freeloaders that much). Sometimes, tho, the only solution is to let people reap the consequences for their own actions.

07-21-2003, 10:03 PM	#8
kkholiday Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: P'cola, Florida Posts: 226	As an engineering major, I faced tons of group projects in college as well. I've been in groups where I had to do all the work and where it was split pretty equally. Anyway, looking back, I realize that those times when I was in groups where the other members weren't pulling their weight is what prepared me the most for the workplace. That's how real life is. Not everyone tries as hard as you want them too. It sucks, but you have to expect that. A good manager has to work with the other group members and get as much out of them as he can get, even if it means dragging it out of them.

07-21-2003, 10:25 PM	#9
keyser_soze Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: god's judge (pariah) Posts: 1,281	I wish I had been willing to sacrifice my gpa to serve the point. I didn't and had quite a number of instances where my group did 0% of the work, and would slap each other on the back when a high mark came back. I talked to the dean(a good friend) my senior year, and since he was over 4 of my classes professors, they already knew what was going on before it even began. Whoever did work, I noted in the final formatted work, and grades were given accordingly. Those who refused to work, got failing marks on the research. No slackers tried to get into my group by next semester. I felt bad about it, but I got tired of doing 4 or 5 people's work on two projects at the same time. If only I had known it could be done in my junior year, it would have helped tremendously.

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