If you haven't finished your homework, making an excuse can help you avoid being punished. There are many plausible reasons - from a technological breakdown to too many commitments - that can justify you failing to do your duty. When you have decided which excuse to use, try to express it as credibly as possible. But in the future, remember to be more careful and learn to meet deadlines. You shouldn't lie often, or your reputation as a student would suffer.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Choose an Excuse
Step 1. Blame the technology
One of the simplest and most credible excuses to come up with is a breakdown. You can say that your computer has crashed, that the printer has broken or come up with many other problems. Each of us, including your professor, has suffered from the unexpected related to electronic devices.
- This excuse is great if you needed to print documents. You can also use it if you had to do some homework by consulting material on the internet. You can say that you have completed everything you had to do, but that the computer broke down and you could not print.
- Claiming your printer broken may not be a good idea. Your teacher may ask you to email your homework, and if you haven't finished it, you won't be able to. He may also tell you that you should have taken the documents to be printed at the copy shop, instead of showing up to school empty-handed.
Step 2. Consider your family situation
You can use it to your advantage. How is the atmosphere in your home? Are there any unique circumstances that you can use as a valid justification?
- For example, if your parents are divorced, you can say that you spent the night with your mother, but left the textbook with your father. Many teachers take the causes of children of divorced parents to heart. If you used an excuse like this, your professor might decide to forgive you.
- Do you have younger brothers? You might say you had to babysit for your little sister, but she got sick and that distracted you from homework.
Step 3. You claim that you have been ill
You can tell your teacher that you felt bad the previous day. Explain that you couldn't do your homework, but you didn't want to skip school as well. Your teacher may take pity on you and admire your efforts to attend classes, despite your indisposition.
- You can try running in the corridors of the school or in the yard before class. This can give you a hot and flushed look. If you don't look healthy, your teacher will be more likely to believe you.
- Remember that some teachers require a signed justification from the parents in case of illness. Avoid this excuse if your teacher always requires proof of pupil health problems.
Step 4. You claim the subject was too difficult
Try saying, "I didn't understand the assignment. I tried all day, but couldn't complete my homework. Can we discuss it at the end of the lesson?" Your teacher's duty is to help you understand his subject. He will admire your urge to learn if you claim that you don't understand. If you give the impression that you really want to learn, the teacher may be willing to turn a blind eye to your delay in homework.
Step 5. Pretend you missed your homework
Go into the classroom in a panic and explain to the teacher that you can't find your notebook or specific sheet. If your staging is compelling enough, your teacher may believe you and give you an extra day or two to finish your homework.
Avoid saying you left your homework behind. The teacher may ask you to call your parents to bring them to you, revealing your lie
Step 6. Blame your schedule
You claim that extracurricular activities and homework assigned by other professors have left you no time. If you're a model student, this excuse might work. Your teacher may forgive you if they think you are really overwhelmed with commitments.
Be careful not to use this excuse if you aren't really busy. If you always show up late for school and don't do any extracurricular activities, your teacher will understand that you are lying
Step 7. Avoid playing dumb
For example, you may be tempted to say that you forgot to do your homework. This approach is almost always counterproductive: forgetting a task is as serious a mistake as refusing to do it. Your teacher will almost never forgive you for that excuse and will give you a bad grade.
Part 2 of 4: Communicating the Excuse
Step 1. Consider the personality of the teacher
Before lying to a professor, evaluate his character; this way, you can communicate your apology as effectively as possible.
- If your teacher is particularly strict, be prepared to answer a lot of questions. He will try to improvise an "interrogation", to find weaknesses in your excuse. For example, imagine you said you couldn't do your homework because your computer crashed. A stiff teacher might say, "Why didn't you go to the library to finish your homework?" Prepare an answer. Try: "My mom was at work and no one could accompany me."
- Do you know your teacher's personal interests? This can help you figure out which excuses work best. For example, you know your chemistry teacher is the eldest of seven siblings. In that case, he may feel empathy for your story about how you couldn't do your homework because your younger siblings kept you busy.
Step 2. Be short and direct
The more concise the excuse, the easier it will be to remember. For this reason, choose concise stories. If you go into too much detail, you could arouse suspicion and fail to follow the script.
- Explain only the most important details. For example, imagine that you could not finish your math homework because you were late for the piano essay. Don't overdo the details; just say, "Some students took too long to finish their solos, so we didn't finish before 9:30 pm and the drive home took 45 minutes." Don't say: "Marco Rossi took 25 minutes to play his part, even if only 10 were planned, then Laura Bianchi arrived late on stage…". The longer you continue the lie, the less credible you will be. Nobody could remember all those details.
- If your teacher insists on more information, you can improvise, but avoid making up too many details. For example, your teacher may ask you, "How long did the essay last?" Don't answer "It was supposed to finish at 8:30 pm, but we left at 9:23 pm"; rather, try saying something vague, like, "I'd say about 45 minutes".
Step 3. Make up a plausible story
You could use the previous scenario. You should only do this, though, if you've actually participated in an essay. Even if the delay is a lie, if your teacher were to check the veracity of what you are saying, he would find at least some truth. This will make your story more believable.
Step 4. Remember all the details
After you come up with an excuse, write down some of the details. This step can be especially useful if you have had to improvise. Lies are often discovered because they are stories that change over time. If you try hard to remember the details you revealed, your story will stay consistent and, as a result, be more believable.
Step 5. Watch out for physical signs that can betray you
Many people adopt unconscious attitudes that indicate that they are lying. When you tell a lie, you may eat your words, fidget nervously with your fingers, or avoid eye contact. Try not to give the impression that you are nervous when you present your explanation.
- Take a few deep breaths before entering the classroom, so as not to lose your cool.
- Look the teacher in the eye but don't stare.
- Be aware of the movements of your body. Try not to fiddle with your fingers excessively.
Part 3 of 4: Consider the Consequences
Step 1. Think about what would happen if you were discovered
Before making an excuse, try to consider the consequences of failure. Study your school's policies regarding lying to teachers.
- Consider the teacher's directions. He may have explicitly stated what the punishment is for a pupil found to lie.
- Refer to the principal's directions. The school statute could provide for punishments for pupils found to lie.
- The consequences can vary from teacher to teacher. In some cases you will only receive a verbal reprimand, in others the teacher may have a duty to report this type of behavior to the principal and your parents. If so, you could end up in serious trouble at home and at school.
Step 2. Consider the consequences of honesty
Consider the pros of telling the truth. What would happen if you simply told your teacher that you forgot to do your homework? What are the consequences of turning in homework late or not at all?
- The consequences can depend on the task. Not completing exercises or not reading a textbook chapter are not actions that can result in severe punishment. Not delivering a theme or a report on a third of the program can be much more important.
- Talk to students who have already had the same teacher as you. How did you react in the past when a pupil did not do their homework? Some professors accept small delays in delivery and can only assign small penalties on the assessment. Others will pass over a student's first delay. In these cases, admitting your guilt may be the best solution.
Step 3. Compare the consequences
After weighing the pros and cons of your situation, consider which is the most advantageous solution. Decide if it's really worth lying to your teacher.
- You can create a list of pros and cons for both scenarios. Write down the possible benefits and negative consequences of each option. For example, divide a sheet into two columns ("pros" and "cons"), then write "Lying to my teacher" as the title. Under "pro", you can write: "This is a very important task and having more time could help me get a better grade." Under "against", you can write: "If the teacher found out that I am lying, he would tell the principal and I would be suspended for a week."
- Consider the pros and cons. If the pros of an option far outweigh the cons, it is probably the right choice.
Part 4 of 4: Avoiding the Problem in the Future
Step 1. Prioritize the tasks right
You shouldn't have to make up an excuse. If you often lie, your teacher will probably eat the leaf. Try to give more importance to the tasks, to avoid the problem in the future.
- Do your homework every day after school. Don't allow yourself any distractions, like playing video games or hanging out with friends, before you're done with your work.
- Write down all the homework you need to do. Make sure you write everything down in your diary so you don't forget it.
Step 2. Ask someone for help
If you're trying to stick to a more effective curriculum, ask for help. Tell your parents that you want to prioritize homework. Tell your friends that you are looking to become a better student. Ask if they want to study with you or if they can stop inviting you when you're busy.
If you often have trouble finishing homework on time and have difficulty concentrating, you may be suffering from attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Talk to your parents and ask to see a doctor
Step 3. Avoid lying regularly
You shouldn't make a habit of making excuses for not doing your homework. In a real emergency your teacher may not believe you if you have betrayed their trust in the past. From now on, try to do your homework on time. When you can't complete an assignment, be honest. Your reputation will benefit.
