IT & Software

Create a late assignment policy

Establish a Clear Late Assignment Policy with This ChatGPT Prompt

What This Prompt Does

Defines when an assignment is considered late (e.g., minutes, hours, or days past the deadline).
Specifies grade penalties or point deductions tied to lateness intervals (e.g., −10% per day).
Offers flexibility clauses (grace periods, excused absences, extension requests).
Outlines submission procedures after the deadline (where and how to turn in late work).
Clarifies expectations for communication and documentation (email, learning‑management system).
Ensures the policy is age‑appropriate and developmentally fair for the specified grade or college level.

Tips

Phrase consequences positively by framing them as “points retained” rather than “points lost.”
Build in a short grace window (e.g., 10–15 minutes) for technical hiccups or brief delays.
Include a procedure for extension requests: deadline, justification, and documentation needed.
Offer a maximum penalty cap (e.g., no more than 50% deduction) to encourage completion over non‑submission.
Communicate the policy in syllabus, class website, and verbally on the first day.
Review and revisit mid‑term to reinforce understanding and address questions.
Be consistent but allow case-by-case discretion for emergencies or extenuating circumstances.

Prompt

Create a policy regarding consequences for late assignments, including what constitutes lateness, how the student’s grade will be impacted, and overall expectations. Make sure it is a reasonable policy for [grade or university level].

How To Use The Prompt

Customize the placeholders with your course or grade specifics.

Template Example:

“Create a late assignment policy for a 9th‑grade English class. Define lateness as any submission after 3:00 PM the day it’s due, deduct 5% per school day late (up to 50%), allow one 24‑hour extension per semester with a student–teacher email request, and require all late work to be submitted via the LMS.”

Example Input

Grade level: 11th Grade

Course type: Honors Biology

Deadline: 11:59 PM on due date

Penalty: −10% per calendar day late, up to 40% max

Grace period: 1‑hour tech buffer

Extensions: Up to two, request via email 24 hours before due

Submission: Late files uploaded to “Late Submissions” folder

Additional Information

This prompt is ideal for:

High school teachers wanting transparent grading policies
College instructors aligning with departmental standards
New courses establishing clear first‑day guidelines
Hybrid/online classes where digital deadlines and hiccups are common

Combine it with prompts like:

“Draft a syllabus section summarizing classroom policies, including late work, attendance, and academic integrity.”
“Create an email template to notify students when their assignment was marked late and explain the penalty.”

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