Went back and actually took a look at my grades for my Greek class, which I was sure I was going to get a B in.
Actually, things aren't as dire as they've looked. Aside from the tests, which have all been pretty mediocre, I've been sitting rather pretty. Not even showing up to the final on Tuesday will net me a B; and I would need to get a 94 on the final test to get an A. I'll have to study my ass off, because my best test score so far has been an 80, which is just barely a B. But it's within the realm of feasibility.
What manner of strange grading scale is your professor using where it takes close to a perfect score on the final to bump you up to an A in the class, but no credit at all will only drop you to a B?
The "final" isn't really a final...it's just another test, of which there are four total. It's a translation class-we've read about 700 lines of the Odyssey in total, and a cumulative final would be impossible to study for. So each test so far tests you on about 150-200 lines, and then you never go over them again.
25% of the grade is attendance and preparation, which have been flawless since my ability to read Greek is very good and my attendence is nearly spotless; 30% is the quizzes, which have been mid-B range; and 45% is the tests, which I've had three so far- I scored a 74, a 78 and an 80. So I'm currently in upper-B range without having taken the final. That means that I need to score...
Wait, OK, something isn't right here...
[EDIT: OK, I've figured out the problem- the gradebook is only counting the first three tests as out of 45, not all four, weighting the first three more than they need to be weighted. I'm doomed to a B no matter what I do, as long as I get at least a 25% on the last test. I'm shooting him a note...]
Thank you, Baffler, for bringing this to my attention!