How to Discuss a Bad Grade with a Teacher

You need that grade to be higher, however talking to your teacher about your grade is not an easy task. Consider the following ideas.
Choose a good time to talk to him or her
Do not try to talk to your teacher when they are about to start class. Do not do so in front of audience. You can do it during their office hours or when you know they have free time. You can also ask if they can make you an appointment. They will be much more likely to listen to your arguments if they are not rushed and are in a good frame of mind.
Have a respectful tone
The first thing to remember before even starting your argument is to be respectful. Your teacher does not need to raise your grade, so if you go in there on the offense saying that he or she must, then they are likely to assert their power and deny you.
Come in with reasonable arguments and evidence
If you truly believe that your paper deserved a better score then you want the teacher to understand why. If they gave you a scoring sheet and you felt that you fulfilled more than the points indicate, then show exactly how you should have earned the points. Show specific parts of the paper that you feel deserved higher points. Listen when your teacher talks to you. Try to explain where you are coming from in a respectful manner.
Offer to do more
Your paper as is may not earn any more points, however with reasonable arguments your teacher may be willing to let you revise or rewrite it for additional credit. Offer to do everything that you can. If they realize how much more work you are willing to put forth, then they may be more inclined to give you a break and the opportunity.
Explain why the grade is so important
Perhaps this one test will make the difference between you passing and failing the class. If these few points are worth a lot more than they seem, then you can make your teacher understand that and hopefully he or she will take pity on you.
You can try your best to talk your teacher into raising your grade, but remember that there are times that nothing you do will help. Try as many of the tactics above as possible to convince your teacher to give you a second chance.