The moral of this story is to always have a plethora of reasons to back up why you removed marks from a student's assignment. Why? Because kids are smart-mouthed and angsty. I love this about them; of course they should question their grades! But try to have those reasons up your blouse because they will maim you about it until their short attention span directs them elsewhere.

I gave Harry's group 22/25 on their Reader's Theatre performance. That was a good grade, it was an entertaining performance that might have won a Teen Choice Award had it been staged somewhere other than Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Harry argued every grade. Every Single Grade.
"Uh, Miss Crimmins. I couldn't help but notice you took off three marks and commented that Daniel's hot dog costume was confusing."
"Yes, I did write that."
"So what I would like to know is if we lost three marks for his costume, because it became clear that he was dressed like a hot dog at the end, so it's not really fair that we lost three marks if there was clarity at the end, even if it was confusing throughout."
(Harry's parents are university professors, which is why he speaks remarkably well for a twelve year old).
"Well Harry, it was a group project and the grade is a group grade, so you need to keep in mind that the grade does not reflect only your performance, it is a cumulative grade for everyone."
"I understand that, but everyone liked his hot dog costume except for you."
"That's not true, I loved his costume, I laughed! Who doesn't like hot dogs?"
"So why did we lose three marks?"
"You lost one mark from three different sections of the rubric, only one of the marks lost was because of Daniel's hot dog costume."
"Yeah, but why?"
"Because his costume covered his face and because this is a Reader's Theatre assignment, we actually need to hear what each person is reading from the script, and Daniel was muffled, so we didn't understand a single thing he said."
"Yeah, but why the three whole marks?"
"Harry, only one mark was for Daniel's lack of projection, the other two marks were for two totally different things; one was taken off for the whole group not making eye contact with the audience,"
"I did!"
"I know."
"So put that mark back on!"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it is a group grade, the grade isn't just for you-"
"But I deserve the grade!"
"Yes, you do, but you weren't entirely perfect either, Harry."
Pause.
"Did you just roll your eyes at me?"
He shrugs.
"I hate that."
"Sorry..."
"Harry, you won't earn grades by rolling your eyes."
"Well apparently you can't earn them by dressing up like a huge hot dog, either."
"No. Not always."
Awkward pause. I never know how to end these conversations.
"Well okay then, thanks for stopping by."
He backs away.

Sometimes I feel like rubrics are a big scam. I'd rather give head pats. Handshakes. Smelly stickers.