Mrs sky y am i faling ur clas?????

Dear Unnamed Student,

It is an interesting question you have posed. Not only from an aesthetic perspective (ur=your?), but from a grammatic perspective as well. When a question is read aloud, the emphasis of certain words can change the meaning of the question. For example:

“WHY am I failing your class” implies that there is a reason, and that it is discernable. It is a question of which choices led to the outcome.

“Why AM I failing your class” implies that the reason is intrinsic to you. You could be not failing, but here you are – failing. Why ARE you doing that?

“Why am I failing your class” suggests that you should not be, and that someone else should. It implies that you have been chosen to fail, specifically. Let me assure you this is not the case.

“Why am I FAILING your class” gives the impression that there is an understanding that perhaps a low grade was anticipated, but not THAT low.

“Why am I failing YOUR class” says that of all other classes, mine is exceptional in some way – either it is so easy that it seems impossible that you could be failing, or that of all your classes, mine is the only one that you are failing.

“Why am I failing your CLASS” is a particular favorite of mine because it establishes that in some way our rapport outside of the classroom is good, but inside there is some kind of misunderstanding. My CLASS is the least of all the things you would normally worry about failing.

So, Unnamed, I reflect the question back to you. Why are you failing my class? It is not rocket-magic we are trying to unravel here. Where to put a period, how many question marks to use, how to spell out the word “why”…the are the pedestrian, if pedantic, concerns of my classroom. Nay, of OUR classroom. If you have a choice to fail or to not fail, by mere demonstration of completed work, then why would you choose fail?

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Ms. In-The-Sky