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Mother Receives Low Grade After Professor Claims Australia is Not a Country
In a bizarre turn of events, a mother from Idaho, named Emma Carter, experienced an unusual grading issue while pursuing her online sociology degree at Southern New Hampshire University. The 27-year-old stay-at-home mom chose to compare social media usage between the United States and Australia for her final project. However, the assignment took a strange twist when her professor, who holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy, issued her a failing grade.
Carter was astonished when she saw her grade on February 1st. The professor’s feedback read, “Australia is a continent, not a country.” Confused by this assertion, Carter promptly reached out to her professor, asserting that Australia is indeed recognized as a country. She included references to back up her claim, highlighting that the full title is the Commonwealth of Australia, which designates it as both a continent and a country.
In her email, Carter stated, “I believe I received zero or partial credit because the instructor insisted that Australia is a continent, not a country. However, I provided a source from the SNHU Shapiro library that confirms Australia is the ‘sixth-largest country in the world’ (n.p.). Therefore, I request that this section of the grading rubric be reconsidered.”
In a light-hearted yet frustrating exchange, Carter shared her professor’s dismissive attitude online: “If you start by claiming Australia is a country, you will lose credibility trying to argue they ride kangaroos to work.” Carter struggled to understand how someone with advanced degrees could question such a basic fact about geography. “If she is unsure, why not just Google it?” she remarked.
After sending another email reiterating her points and providing additional resources, including a link to the Australian government’s website, the professor still clung to her stance. “Independent research,” she insisted, prompting images of the professor buried in books at a library, obsessively pondering the classification of Australia.
Ultimately, the professor acknowledged her error, albeit begrudgingly, changing Carter’s failing grade to a B+ but cautioning her to ensure that her report distinguishes between “Australia the country” and “Australia the continent.”
Carter felt a sense of triumph upon seeing her grade updated, noting that this experience helped her realize her worth as a student. “Going back to school in my late twenties, I sometimes felt inadequate. However, this incident taught me that I can advocate for myself and stand firm, even against a stubborn professor,” she shared on social media.
Southern New Hampshire University addressed the situation positively, and Carter was later assigned a different instructor. She expressed gratitude for the university’s responsiveness and support as she continues her academic journey. “I’m looking forward to graduating in May and visiting Australia,” she added.
In conclusion, this experience not only highlighted the importance of academic integrity and self-advocacy but also reaffirmed that Australia is indeed a recognized country. For those interested in related topics, consider exploring resources such as MedlinePlus for comprehensive information on pregnancy and home insemination. Additionally, check out Make A Mom for authoritative insights on home insemination methods, or visit Intracervical Insemination for more informative articles.
