Appealing Quiz Scores

Firms are provided an opportunity to appeal their scores, challenging the instructor's choice of the correct answer. Grounds for appeal are:
1) A good faith argument that a different answer than the one marked as correct should be counted as correct supported by citation to the assigned readings and other relevant authority that the firm may choose to provide
2) A good faith argument that the question was poorly worded, e.g. vague or ambiguous, such that one or more different answers than the one marked as correct should be counted as correct
3) A good faith argument that the assigned readings did not provide an adequate basis for choosing the correct answer so that one or more different answers than the one marked as correct should be counted as correct

Appeals must be submitted by email or email attachment, by the date and time specified by the instructor for each quiz.

If the instructor grants an appeal, all members of the appealing firm are given credit for that answer (if different than the indicated correct answer) for each time the student answered that question (e.g. for both an initial individual response and then a second response after firm meeting). Scores for students from non-appealing firms remain unchanged. Points are never subtracted as a result of appeals.

An individual student may appeal but must include in the appeal an explanation for why the student has not acted through his or her firm in pursuing an appeal. Appeals filed by firms are more likely to be granted.

Example:
On a quiz, B was indicated as the correct answer.
All members of Firm #1 chose B (initially and after firm meeting)
All members of Firms #2 & #3 chose answer A (initially and after firm meeting)
Firm #2 appealed the answer and was successful in the appeal. How will the quiz scores be adjusted?
The scores of members of Firms #1 and #3 will remain the same.
The score of members of Firm #2 will be increased by two points (as if A was the correct answer)

Quiz questions will not always be posted on the course website, especially if there is a possibility that an absent student will request a make-up opportunity. Students may therefore request the instructor to send the text of a quiz question by email for purposes of preparing an appeal.

For more information see:
Barbara Glesner Fines, Using Team-Based Learning in the Professional Responsibility Course (excerpt: rationale for providing appeals as a component of team-based learning)