Re-grading policy:
From our perspective, re-grading is the worst part about teaching a course; we are all overworked, and we hate dealing with grade-grubbing. In order to minimize the psychic pain on our side, we want to set forth this re-grading policy. If you are thinking about requesting a re-grade, please read and follow the guidelines listed below. Failure to do so may result in a re-grade that actually decreases your score.
1. Unless the error is in the totaling of points, do not ask for a re-grade before the solutions and grading standards are posted! (And, since your TAs are already overworked and re-grades are very low on our priorities list, it may take a while for solutions and grading standards to be posted – just be patient.)
2. We will only re-grade entire assignments (not just single problems or subproblems), so if you are thinking about asking for a re-grade, be sure that your score will actually go up. (My experience is that most re-grades tend to lose more points than they gain – you've been warned.)
3. Be advised that we tend to grade very leniently the first time around – each assignment have some fluff built into it (so that, on average, you will tend to get more points than the standard would otherwise indicate). However, if you ask for a re-grade, we will be re-grading the entire exam strictly according to the grading standard. (Meaning: much more harshly – you've been warned.)
4. If the standards are out and you're sure that you will gain points, you can submit the assignment to your TA for a re-grade. Your TA will not grade it on the spot; rather, he will take it to the weekly staff meeting where we will all re-grade it together. The entire process may take several weeks (depending on how busy we all are), so please be patient.
(We're not trying to be jerks with this policy; rather, we are just trying to ensure that our time is spent doing productive work rather than nitpicking with students about ½ of 1% of their grade.)