A Petition for My Final Grade in ESL 5
According to Canvas, my current grade is C, but I am respectfully requesting an A based on my growth, revision, completed work, and overall progress in ESL 5.
This website presents the evidence for that request through my writing development, major assignments, participation, and reflection.
Thesis & Request
Grade Earned
according to Canvas
Grade Requested
Why?
Because my overall work shows improvement in essay structure, successful revision, commitment to assignments, and progress toward the course learning outcomes.
"While I understand that my recorded grade is a C, I believe my full body of work more accurately reflects an A when my growth, revisions, and completed assignments are considered together."
My Growth as a Writer
At the beginning of ESL 5, my main weakness was essay structure. It was difficult for me to organize ideas clearly and build strong body paragraphs.
During the quarter, I improved in writing essays with better structure, clearer support, and more purposeful revision. My writing became more organized, more academic, and easier to follow.
My ESL Journey Did Not Start in ESL 5
Before ESL 5, I had already been building my English through earlier ESL classes, including ESL D473, D465, and D255. ESL 5 was an important step in that journey because it pushed me beyond basic writing and required me to develop stronger academic structure, argument, and revision. This class helped me improve in a more advanced way.
ESL D255
Foundation building
ESL D465
Developing basic essays
ESL D473
Strengthening paragraphs
Entered ESL 5
Advanced academic writing
Open Letter
Argument & academic tone
Research Paper
Using evidence & rationale
Poster Presentation
Completed despite missing initially
Final Reflection
Understanding my growth
Evidence 1: My Open Letter
One of the assignments I am most proud of is my Open Letter. In that assignment, I argued that Standard Academic English is important for students because it prepares them for transfer and professional communication.
I supported my ideas with outside sources, including San José State University requirements and Stanley Fish. During revision, I made the letter stronger by cutting repetition, combining sentences, and making the argument more concise and credible. This assignment shows my ability to write with purpose, use evidence, and revise effectively.
“This Standard Academic English requirement is not just a personal opinion, but also a formal university expectation.”
Evidence 2: My Research Paper Revision
My research paper on the U.S. prison system also shows my growth. In my first version, my introduction did not clearly explain my rationale for choosing the topic. After receiving feedback, I revised the introduction by adding why I chose the topic, what I wanted to understand, and why the issue mattered to me. That revision made the introduction stronger and more meaningful. This shows that I do not ignore feedback. I use it to improve my work.
The introduction explained the topic, but it did not clearly explain my reason for choosing it.
I added my rationale, including my interest in how prisons work, how control operates from a distance, and how security can conflict with rehabilitation.
That revision directly responded to teacher feedback and made the paper stronger.
Responsibility, Completion, and Revision
Throughout the quarter, I completed my assignments and took revision seriously. I missed class only once because I was sick. Although I initially missed the poster presentation, I still completed it later.
I also revised my major assignments in order to improve my grade and strengthen my writing. These actions reflect responsibility and commitment rather than giving up when the work became difficult.
A Weakness I Recognize
Feedback Received
“There needs to be a stronger connection to the prompt.”
One area where I did not perform as strongly was the Final Timed Writing on Reading with Patrick. I received feedback that my writing included specific references to the text, but the connection to the prompt needed to be stronger. I accept that weakness.
At the same time, I do not believe that one weaker timed assignment fully represents my overall work in ESL 5, especially when my revised major assignments show stronger structure, growth, and academic writing ability.
Student Learning Outcomes
Analyze and Evaluate Texts
Through assignments connected to class readings and my final timed writing, I practiced making connections between texts and larger ideas, even though this remains an area I still want to improve.
Write Essays and Research-Based Writing
My Open Letter and research paper show that I can build arguments, use sources, revise based on feedback, and write in an academic style.
Grammar, Sentence Structure, & Vocabulary
My writing improved in organization, sentence flow, and academic tone over the quarter, especially through revision and practice.
Why My Overall Work Supports an A
I understand that my Canvas grade currently shows a C. However, when I look at my full performance in ESL 5, I see clear evidence of growth, revision, responsibility, and stronger academic writing.
My work in the Open Letter and research paper demonstrates that I can write with structure, support ideas with evidence, and improve through feedback. Because of that overall progress, I believe my achievement in this course is stronger than the current grade alone suggests.
Thank You for Considering My Petition
Thank you for your time, your feedback, and the opportunity to reflect on my work in ESL 5. No matter the final decision, this course helped me grow as a writer. I respectfully ask you to reconsider my final grade and consider raising it from a C to an A based on my overall effort, progress, and demonstrated improvement.
Respectfully,
Kubatbek Zharkulov
© 2026 Kubatbek Zharkulov
ESL 5 Portfolio