So, I’ve been kind of a lazy sack of shit when it comes to my scholarly responsibilities.

I haven’t literally failed to complete, and now have to make up, 99 case briefs for my constitutional law class…

Just like 30 or so.

I guess that’s around the point you can expect an email along these lines:

Dear James,

I have learned that this Wednesday, March 30, is the deadline for withdrawing from a course with a “W” instead of a “WF.”  I bring this to your attention because at this point in the Constitutional Law course, you are in serious danger of failing.  As I pointed out in my note to you following the mid-term exam, you were already so far behind in your case briefs at mid-term that you risked forfeiting all credit for that portion of the grade.  You have not responded to my invitation to create a plan to make up the missing case briefs.  Worse, you have turned no work since the mid-term and have not attended class since spring break.

Your behavior tells me that you are not really interested in the course.  I am willing to allow you to withdraw with a grade of “W” if you wish to do so at this point.  I am also willing to let you stay in the class if you can persuade me that you are serious about making up the missing work, not missing any additional work, and studying enough so that you can perform adequately on the Opinion Assignment and the final exam.

To which the necessary reply is:

Professor ______,

I apologize for how little I have been communicating with you, but my intentions are still to finish the course. I can assure you that my behavior has been a horrible representation of my interest in the content of the course. Many of the briefs that I didn’t turn in have been completed, as on a number of occasions I simply forgot to hand them in at the end of class in my rush to make it on time to my next one.

As for the others, I would like to meet with you to create a plan to make them up if the offer still stands. I am free all day tomorrow (Wednesday) if that works for you; my class schedule is pretty busy for the rest of today.

What can I say, writing case briefs just isn’t as fun as blogging.

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