A case for arguing for a bump.

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cheezer

Ok, overall I did well this semester, but I ended up getting a B+ in Physics and I'm making my case to the professor for a bump. The B+ is my pure calculated grade according to the syllabus and I would've accepted it except that I think I was given the short end of the stick given some of his end of the semester promises.

Anyways, there were hw/quizzes, two midterms and a two part final for the course. On the first midterm, average scores were in the 40s and 50s. I scored an 84. Since most people scored incredibly low, the professor allowed everyone to "redo" all the problems, and he would give half of the points back to the students. Therefore, someone who scored a 40 could get thirty points back and have a 70. With my score, I could get eight points back.

I bombed the second midterm. This was basically my undoing. For this test, people did significantly better and there were a couple of 90s. I scored the average, which was a 64. However, for this test he did not allow the regrade. Nearly all of my missed points came from not knowing one of the right hand rules, which was a concept that consisted of half the test. (I got it down pat for the final btw)

After the second midterm, he told the class that he would give those who improved significantly throughout the course a bump in their grade. He was not specific about it, he only said that if he saw improvement, he would take that into consideration. I scored a 217/250 on the final, which is an 87%, the highest B+ you can have with his syllabus scale. When the hw/quizzes (20%) are taken into account, the score is higher.

Anyways, I sent an email to the professor outlining these points. Wish me luck. Feel free to tell me if I have a case or I'm just being a whiny beatch. I look forward to your responses.
 
I'll stop short of calling you a "whiny beatch", but I don't see where the professor didn't live up to his promises. Was it in the syllabus that student could get the "regrade" for exams? You got an 84 on the first exam - sure, you can only get a max of 8 points back, but that would have put you in the A range. Bombing the second test because you don't know one of the RHR's seems like a studying issue (unless the prof told you not to learn it). And finally, going from a 64 on the second midterm to an 87 on the final sounds like pretty solid improvement.

That said, if the grade you're calculating is different than what you received, you should go to his office hours and ask him if he'll go over his records with you. If your final average, including everything, is 87%, I'd say you should accept your grade. Good luck.
 
I understand your argument, but he gave the impression that he'd take exception to the calculated grade if significant improvement was shown. But yes, you're right, the regrade was at his discretion and I didn't study enough for the second midterm.

After the second midterm, I told him my grade had dropped to a solid B -something he later confirmed- and asked if there was "any hope" of reaching an A- with this supposed bump he was talking about. He told me that I could get a solid A if I did well on the final. His grading scale for an A is 88-100% and yes I know an 87% is not an 88%. Nevertheless, it is a solid improvement and I don't know how the rest of the class did, but he had taken exception before with the regrade.

I dunno, it's worth a shot.
 
I guess my whole deal is I want an A-, he promised a "bump" w/improvement, and had I not bombed the second test it would've been possible. I'm self flagellating as we speak.
 
Grade bumping is not warranted in 99% of cases. However I must admit, if I was in a class where I thougt I was being discriminated against for being a good student...I would say something.

But you DID mess up on the midterm. Just think, if you would have done some more problems with the RHR and studied a bit more, this whole situation would be a moot point. That is what your professor will be thinking when you ask for that "bump."
 
I hate bump requests in general, but I've been over that ground ad nauseum in the three other bump threads in the past week; in this case, I suspect that your professor was considering a grade bump for students on the lower end of the grading scale (e.g., if their calculated grade is very low, but they have shown an upward trend over the semester, he would lean towards a higher grade), rather than those looking to go from a B+ to an A-. That being said, I don't know if this is true and I could very easily be putting words in his mouth.
 
I guess I'll give you my opinion since you are asking for them. If I was the prof, I probably would not bump you. I have been a teacher for a while, and the normal trend is for kids that do well at the beginning slack off until they realize that they have to buckle down to save their grade. Then they want to argue points at the end to hit the bare minimum to get what they had in mind from the start. It seems like this is the situation, mostly because you admit you did poorly on the midterm due to lack of preparation and not some extinuating circumstances. I would definitely take this lesson to heart for the rest of your college career!

Plus, I guess it may just be the schools that I went to (Uof Michigan and Michigan State), but an 87% being a B+ already seems more than fair. I never once had a class where you didnt need at least a 90% for an A- (plus we were on 3.0, 3.5 system, so there werent pluses and minuses anyway).

If it works out for you and the prof gives you the bump, I would just say dont expect this to be the normal. I do know a few kids that made their way through undergrad arguing for every grade to be higher, and yes their GPA is probably a bit higher than it would have been otherwise. Just remember, you will need to get letters of recommendation from your professors, preferably in classes that were difficult and that you got an A in. If you asked for a grade bump, it will most likely make its way into that letter. I would be worried the adcoms would see me as one of 'those kids'.

Either way, good luck and happy holidays! :luck:
 
Why do people ask this question? Do you really need SDN validation for every action you take?

Here, I will summarize the two opinions that will lead to a five-page thread:

A) You are a whiny bitch who disgusts me. Be a man, keep your dignity, and take what you earned.

B) Go for it. You have nothing to lose. There's nothing wrong with maximizing your grades. That's life - unfair, but people who know how to work the system will always get ahead.

I'll argue B, most will argue A. Pick whichever one you prefer and do whatever the hell you feel like.
 
Wow, way to emasculate yourself by begging. Do you have any self respect? Accept what you've earned.
 
I didn't get the bump, but that's okay. I personally think there's nothing wrong with asking in a circumstance like this. Some professors are very clear in the beginning that nothing of the sort is acceptable. My physics professor wasn't as clear and made it seem like a possibility.

He emailed back today and said he did everything he could to maximize everyone's grade, which involved dropping the lowest quiz and hw and sliding the scale down. After all that, I was short a percentage point from an A-. Oh well.

As for the attitude that by "begging" I am emasculating myself, I'd like to point out that those who don't ask and aren't proactive about their grade are the foolish ones. While it is in the professors self interest to be as objective and as fair as possible, it is also in the student's interests to make his/her case to the professor in case points are missed, or if a vague promise was not kept. Got to look out for numero uno, and in my case that means taking issue with any grade below an A-. If the professor presents a solid case like this one did, only then will I accept it "like a man." Phfft, whatever.
 
Your professor is horrible if his class average score is 64% on an exam.

Edit: and yes, those calling you "whiny" or "unable to just deal with it" are idiots. The professor will decide, and if you get an A then all the power to you.
 
I'd like to point out that those who don't ask and aren't proactive about their grade are the foolish ones.

Sounds like your professor has a spine. Too bad you don't.

Asking for free points at the end of the semester is far from being "proactive" about your grade.
 
Don't let the things that AustinBum says get to you. He seems to be developing a habit of going from thread to thread insulting other posters. Either he'll change, or the appropriate people will eventually cross the line too far.

Cheezer, you got the final results, understood their justification, and accepted them without whining. Keep up the good attitude. Hey, you learned that it's not just the beginning and end of term that count; the middle can make difference. Learning that early may pay off well in the long run.
 
Sounds like your professor has a spine. Too bad you don't.

Asking for free points at the end of the semester is far from being "proactive" about your grade.

I agree. It seems that a lot of people here have no personal integrity. Asking for a bump just because they feel they deserve a higher grade then what they earned is what I'd call being a little bitch.
 
Let's keep things civil, people. It's possible to express disapproval with asking for grade bumps without personal insults.
 
. . . I am emasculating myself. . . whatever.

Indeed. The system was unequivocally stated in your syllabus and by your professor. You crunched the numbers yourself and you failed to meet his standard. Whining for 1% that you did not earn is unbecoming of an adult and unfair to your fellow classmates.
 
I agree. It seems that a lot of people here have no personal integrity. Asking for a bump just because they feel they deserve a higher grade then what they earned is what I'd call being a little bitch.

Seconded. I'd further add that professors should dock your grade by the unearned boost for which you prostituted yourself.
 
Dude you did the right thing ... doesn't hurt to ask for a bump .... but asking for approval on here with a bunch of insecure premeds = pointless. Some will be pissed off because they got their 88% without asking for a bump. If they were truly confident in their abilities, they wouldn't care. Obviously, they feel the need to put others down due to their own insecurities.

You > Haters (funny thing is... many of these haters are far from "saintly" .. at some point or the other, they have used connections.. or will do so at some point in their lives in order to get ahead... they just don't want YOU doing the same)


Just don't post here for approval on everything you do ... I'd say ... grow some balls and learn to trust yourself 👍
 
Another thread with personal attacks keep em coming boys 🙄
 
When did it become acceptable to basically accost a professor and ask him/her to CHANGE the grading scale on your behalf, just for you?

I mean, it's one thing to argue about how a particular problem was graded on a test, etc... at least, then, the debate is about a specific problem, and professors expect that to some extent, since grading/giving partial credit are somewhat arbitrary processes.

But that's completely different from going up to the professor at the end of the semester and basically going... "look, I know your syllabus clearly stated __% is an A, and my score's below that, but I want an A anyway. Can you give me an A? Because I feel like I really really really deserve it."


I mean, what the heck? It's not even about pride to me... it just fails to make any sense. It's the equivalent of running a race, getting a second place (maybe missing first by a few milliseconds), then contesting the result! "Well, I only missed first by a few milliseconds! I think I deserve a gold medal too!" :laugh:
 
On the first midterm, average scores were in the 40s and 50s. I scored an 84. Since most people scored incredibly low, the professor allowed everyone to "redo" all the problems, and he would give half of the points back to the students. Therefore, someone who scored a 40 could get thirty points back and have a 70. With my score, I could get eight points back.
I HATE it when professors do this. This most definitely punishes the high-achieving students and benefits those who did poorly. I had this happen in my entomology class. The material was very clearly presented to us, and I got a 94 on the mid-term. Some girls in the class got less than a 40%! This was just straight memorization, no concepts at all. All you needed to do was learn the anatomy and taxonomy, and you were done. He let them re-do the problems (open notes/open book) and get half credit. So I got 3% back, and they got 30% back. If students do poorly on an exam that was clearly written, that's THEIR problem.
 
I agree. It seems that a lot of people here have no personal integrity. Asking for a bump just because they feel they deserve a higher grade then what they earned is what I'd call being a little bitch.
Nah, that's what I'd call someone whose idiot friends on AIM don't even recognize.
 
When did it become acceptable to basically accost a professor and ask him/her to CHANGE the grading scale on your behalf, just for you?

I mean, it's one thing to argue about how a particular problem was graded on a test, etc... at least, then, the debate is about a specific problem, and professors expect that to some extent, since grading/giving partial credit are somewhat arbitrary processes.

But that's completely different from going up to the professor at the end of the semester and basically going... "look, I know your syllabus clearly stated __% is an A, and my score's below that, but I want an A anyway. Can you give me an A? Because I feel like I really really really deserve it."


I mean, what the heck? It's not even about pride to me... it just fails to make any sense. It's the equivalent of running a race, getting a second place (maybe missing first by a few milliseconds), then contesting the result! "Well, I only missed first by a few milliseconds! I think I deserve a gold medal too!" :laugh:

NOBODY cares what you or I think is acceptable. The point is: professors DO bump grades. Therefore, there is NO harm in trying if you really are at the edge.

It's like arguing that people getting into schools through legacy is dumb and stupid.. and pointless. The point is: people do get in... don't they?
 
NOBODY cares what you or I think is acceptable. The point is: professors DO bump grades. Therefore, there is NO harm in trying if you really are at the edge.

It's like arguing that people getting into schools through legacy is dumb and stupid.. and pointless. The point is: people do get in... don't they?

And in either case the general public is obligated to call these individuals out as whiny, grade grubbing bitches or entitlement dependent brats.
 
And in either case the general public is obligated to call these individuals out as whiny, grade grubbing bitches or entitlement dependent brats.

Well if these "whiny, grade grubbing bitches" get into medical school over you, they'll be successful "whiny, grade grubbing bitches."
 
Well if theses "whiny, grade grubbing bitches" get into medical school over you, they'll be successful "whiny, grade grubbing bitches."

That's rich. :laugh:

No, I do not treat my academics so flippantly as to ever be concerned with the A-B borderline.
 
NOBODY cares what you or I think is acceptable. The point is: professors DO bump grades. Therefore, there is NO harm in trying if you really are at the edge.

It's like arguing that people getting into schools through legacy is dumb and stupid.. and pointless. The point is: people do get in... don't they?

Well, I think there IS harm in trying... professors (the decent ones anyway) most likely roll their eyes at such requests. The serious ones may even find such requests to be unprofessional and insulting. Either they'll view the person who made such a request as immature and simply inexperienced (this is the benign interpretation)... Or, they'll view the person as having a lack of integrity and caring only about "scoring well" but not caring about actually learning the material.

Either way... it's not good. And certainly doing so will kill your chances at getting a LOR from said professor.


As for the argument that some professors do bump grades up in response to requests ? WHO in the world does this? I have never heard of a single case of this happening IRL (as opposed to on these "internets")... and certainly not at any half way decent institution. Unless there were extenuating circumstances in the student's life (health problems, family death, financial problems, etc.), in which case that may be warranted. But just for your average Joe/Jane who slacked off and didn't do as well as they would've liked? :laugh:
 
Why do people ask this question? Do you really need SDN validation for every action you take?

Here, I will summarize the two opinions that will lead to a five-page thread:

A) You are a whiny bitch who disgusts me. Be a man, keep your dignity, and take what you earned.

B) Go for it. You have nothing to lose. There's nothing wrong with maximizing your grades. That's life - unfair, but people who know how to work the system will always get ahead.

I'll argue B, most will argue A. Pick whichever one you prefer and do whatever the hell you feel like.

Haha 👍
 
I see no problem with asking for grade bumps and DO NOT let anyone in this forum tell you otherwise. If you have a borderline grade and the professor is willing to hear you out, why not push for the bump? If the professor says no then it's not big deal but at least you gave it a shot. Better asking now then waiting for a semester and wondering what if... The reason most people here don't want you to get the bump is because they don't want you to have the higher GPA. Go for it.
 
It's truly amazing how many people lack any modicum of self-respect. This behavior is no better than cheating on an exam. I suppose the next post by the OP will be titled "A case for arguing for sneaking in notes to a final."
 
Well, I think there IS harm in trying... professors (the decent ones anyway) most likely roll their eyes at such requests. The serious ones may even find such requests to be unprofessional and insulting. Either they'll view the person who made such a request as immature and simply inexperienced (this is the benign interpretation)... Or, they'll view the person as having a lack of integrity and caring only about "scoring well" but not caring about actually learning the material.

Either way... it's not good. And certainly doing so will kill your chances at getting a LOR from said professor.

Again, not sure I'm seeing the harm here. The professor may think you're an dingus, no question, but that can't possibly influence your life unless you need that professor to write you a LOR. However, you can't get an LOR from a professor unless you've either a) done research for him (in which case he would have alreday bumped your grade 🙂) or b) gotten an A in his class. If you're in a position to ask for a grade bump that means you don't already have an A and therefore don't need to worry about a LOR.
 
Again, not sure I'm seeing the harm here. The professor may think you're an dingus, no question, but that can't possibly influence your life unless you need that professor to write you a LOR. However, you can't get an LOR from a professor unless you've either a) done research for him (in which case he would have alreday bumped your grade 🙂) or b) gotten an A in his class. If you're in a position to ask for a grade bump that means you don't already have an A and therefore don't need to worry about a LOR.

Hands down the hardest part of the whole application process was actually getting letters from professors. I had more tell me that they would write one, but then just didnt (long, long stories, mostly with no real point in telling). I not only exhausted requesting them from the classes I got 4.0s in, one came from a 3.5 and one came from a 3.0! Granted, these were still difficult classes, and they all told me I was in the top quarter with these grades, but the fact of the matter is letters need to come from a teacher who: 1) knows your name (hard at big unis) 2) that you did somewhat well in the course (difficulty of this depends on your work ethic and also the classes you take) and the real clincher is 3) actually writes and submits it for you!

I personally would never ask for a grade bump, or grant one if I was asked. But I am not condemning the OP from doing this- it is just my personal choice. I really doubt that anyone on here is telling him not to because he might get an extra .02 on his GPA. I think it is just that more people are against it because it seems like asking for a hand-out when it is not earned, and in my opinion does just show a lack of maturity and respect for the class/instructor.

The key is to be proactive during the course, not just at the end when grades are due. In the OP's case, if it were my class, I would give him the bump if some sort of the following was attempted: once you got your midterm grade, and realized you slid way down, go and ask the prof for help. Ask him if you can do anything as extra credit (the key is to do this while the class is still running, not just when you know you need the extra little umpf). Maybe do some research on a current topic and present it to him/her (paper, powerpoint, something). This would just show that you care about the material and are making it a priority. If you regularly went to office hours or did anything I just mentioned, odds are the teacher would see how close you are and just boost you up. Granted, this really only applies if you are 0.5% away or less from the next grade. However, those are the times when it is appropriate to point out how much you learned, and then see what happens. Just saying, "I'm cool and want an A" doesnt cut it!
 
just go talk to the prof. don't be whiny about it--say what you have to say from the heart

THE KEY IS TO NOT PUT DOWN OTHER STUDENTS' PERFORMANCES OR CRITICIZE HOW THE PROFESSOR GRADES. focus on your performance and how hard you worked .
 
Wow, this thread's exploded. To address some of the issues raised, I started this thread b/c preallo is a nice anonymous way to vent/write my thoughts. I asked the prof for a bump b/c he made it seem possible and in fact announced it to the class. When I asked about it yesterday, he gave proper justification of my current grade so I dropped the issue.

The self-righteousness I'm getting out of some of you amuses me. You talk of "being a man" and having "self-respect," but I ask you, what kind of man sits back and trusts somebody else to look out for his best interests?

Bottom line is, you're here to get yours, I'm here to get mine. If personally attacking me makes your e-testicles feel bigger, then flame away, because I can always use a laugh.
 
.....and never ever ever say that you "need this" because you are a premed.
I didn't. All I asked of him was that he justify my grade. I specifically asked how his promise to "bump things up" factored into it. What he did seemed reasonable; he basically told me that he did what he could while maintaing an objective and fair grading scale. I said okay and told him to enjoy his Christmas.
 
It's truly amazing how many people lack any modicum of self-respect. This behavior is no better than cheating on an exam. I suppose the next post by the OP will be titled "A case for arguing for sneaking in notes to a final."
:laugh: talk about taking this to an absurd extreme. One is a behavior that the professor can approve or disapprove, and the other is sneaking behind the professor's back and violating school policy. Give me a break.
 
:laugh: talk about taking this to an absurd extreme. One is a behavior that the professor can approve or disapprove, and the other is sneaking behind the professor's back and violating school policy. Give me a break.

I will give you no such quarter. The grading system should be fully transparent. An inequitably applied process like begging for grades is most definitely on an equal level with cheating with respect to your peers.

An A should go to those who earn it, not the most tactless of the whiny bitches. 👎
 
I didn't. All I asked of him was that he justify my grade. I specifically asked how his promise to "bump things up" factored into it. What he did seemed reasonable; he basically told me that he did what he could while maintaing an objective and fair grading scale. I said okay and told him to enjoy his Christmas.

Yeah, I probably should have bothered to include a quote from the post previous to that, since I meant it to be a continuation of Nikki's post right before it. The ellipses were meant to cover that aspect. Wasn't intended to accuse you of doing so.

Actually, your post was the first of this type that I actually thought had any justification at all for asking, because you hadn't gotten your grade yet and couldn't tell exactly what the prof's intentions were from his previous comment about students who showed improvement. It could have been interpreted as asking him whether or not you fell into that category. You asked, got an answer, and accepted the outcome. The other recent posts about wanting grade increases have all involved expecting an outright favor. In the end, I think that the story behind your own grade got lost because there have been so many whiny threads lately. People wound up letting go of their frustrations about the whole general concept when they read one more thread about it.
 
I will give you no such quarter. The grading system should be fully transparent. An inequitably applied process like begging for grades is most definitely on an equal level with cheating with respect to your peers.

An A should go to those who earn it, not the most tactless of the whiny bitches. 👎
HAHAHAHAHA
 
what do u guys think of this? my physics professor doesnt use +/- system and i got an over grade of 88%......... B......... 3.00........... dammit :wow:
 
what do u guys think of this? my physics professor doesnt use +/- system and i got an over grade of 88%......... B......... 3.00........... dammit :wow:

same deal at my school
All I can say is that sucks =(
An 89 point something... yeah, you can ask for one... but an 88 :/
 
I will give you no such quarter. The grading system should be fully transparent. An inequitably applied process like begging for grades is most definitely on an equal level with cheating with respect to your peers.

An A should go to those who earn it, not the most tactless of the whiny bitches. 👎
Oh, look, you're already on probationary status...
 
what do u guys think of this? my physics professor doesnt use +/- system and i got an over grade of 88%......... B......... 3.00........... dammit :wow:


::Venting disclaimer::
One thing that really bothers me is that the +/- system is at the discretion of the professors. I should have earned two A+'s in two of my classes, but simply got an A. Whereas in my one other class I got a 91.4 which is an A- and which of course tarnishes my beautiful record. I'm just annoyed that the school doesn't have some universal policy when it comes to grades and classes. Also, an A- is a 3.6 whereas an A+ is a mere 4.0. What's the point in having the plus sign, other than the obvious aesthetic reasons??
 
Am I the only one who thinks the OP has no legitimate argument for a grade boost other than "I mixed up my right and left hands when learning a concept," or am I just reading the situation wrong? The "points" the OP seems to have sent the professor seem more like excuses than arguments. You might as well be better off saying "I need an A so I can get into medical school." Maybe then, by some miracle, he might have some sort of sympathy and grant your request. Of course it could just as easily go wrong.

Personally, I would only ever approach a professor with such a request only if I had clear evidence that my grade was miscalculated, whether it be by some marking error or otherwise.
 
Your professor is horrible if his class average score is 64% on an exam.

That was a little bit higher than the class averages for my biology and chem classes at OSU and Miami (OH).


If you feel the grade you received was unfair based upon the syllabus bring it up. If you feel the grade is unfair because of a potential "boost" stated in class by the professor or hoping for sympathy, take the grade you earned and go with it. Live and learn.

As tempting as it may be to get a grade boost (because it happens) it isn't fair to those who play by the rules and take the grades you earned. I'd hate to lose my spot in medical school over some kid who buddied up to the professors and begged and pleaded to get a B+ turned into an A- every semester.


Ahh.... the pros and cons of the +/- system. An 89% 3.0 is a killer but when that becomes a 3.4 (3.3?)... we like it 🙂
 
To OP: I'm glad you at least tried to justify getting a grade bump as opposed to just "checking to see" if it would work.

NOBODY cares what you or I think is acceptable. The point is: professors DO bump grades. Therefore, there is NO harm in trying if you really are at the edge.

It's like arguing that people getting into schools through legacy is dumb and stupid.. and pointless. The point is: people do get in... don't they?

I care bozz, I care.

The kind of attitude that you are supporting is the reason that this kind of related behavior perpetuates itself. People begin to say things like, "well since Jimmy did it, I guess I'll do it too." They forget to ask themselves if it was something Jimmy should have done in the first place.

I have an example of a stupid, pointless method by which pre-meds may improve odds of gaining acceptance into medical school. Why not murder your fellow pre-meds? There are so many unsolved murders; a smart person could easily get away with it. If the reason you'd refuse to do it is because it's too risky, then you have some other troubling issues.

Just because something happens doesn't mean you need, or that it's necessarily okay, to further contribute to its recurrence.
 
I didn't. All I asked of him was that he justify my grade. I specifically asked how his promise to "bump things up" factored into it. What he did seemed reasonable; he basically told me that he did what he could while maintaing an objective and fair grading scale. I said okay and told him to enjoy his Christmas.

You have given your professor permission to enjoy his Christmas?!? Wonderful.


and you only asked that he "justify" your grade when you already knew that you were below an A as stated in the syllabus?

What a pretentious a$$ of a person you are.
 
He politly confronted the teacher about the grade, and when the teacher made it clear that he felt a B+ was the correct grade, cheezer here backed down and wished the teacher a happy Christmas.

Only someone with a twisted masochistic mind could warp that series of events into cheezer being a "pretentious a$$". Only a non-confrontational wimp would be of the mentality that they should just accept whatever blows their way.

Even if he messed up on one exam, he clearly demonstrated his mastery of the material during the final exam. People who think he should NOT have asked for a grade bump have an irrational faith in the grading system, as if it actually measures someones mastery of the material with any precision.
 
You have given your professor permission to enjoy his Christmas?!? Wonderful.
Please brush up on your reading comprehension.

and you only asked that he "justify" your grade when you already knew that you were below an A as stated in the syllabus?
Absolutely. Who would ask to justify an A? Anyways, when it became clear that I got what was coming to me, I backed down.

What a pretentious a$$ of a person you are.
:laugh: You amuse me.
 
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