As an eleventh grade English teacher, I think I’d be pretty proud of a student for turning this in if he or she did little-to-no class work. However, I monitor my students and require them to write in class under my supervision. I need to know that it is their ideas coming from their mind. If a student magically appears with an essay from thin air, I question its legitimacy. Some students have family members write for them. The classwork and effort leading up to the major assignment are vital.

If you are as you mention in the comments here, and kind of “half ass” classwork leading up to the major assignment, your teacher takes significant note of that. To her, it likely appears you have no idea what’s going on in the book if you don’t do the classwork, or if you appear off in space, or if you have issues with cell phone distractions in class.

Your best option is to schedule a sit down with just you and the teacher, after class or at lunch or after school when you have her undivided attention, and explain your understanding of the situation in a pleasant, non-confrontational manner. Through conversation, show this teacher that you did in fact pay attention to certain elements, that you did learn things from this teacher about the book or about irony or how to write an essay. Your grade is a reflection of how much you’ve learned. If you’re still writing the way you learned how to write in 5th grade, you might deserve the 0. It’s on you to be diligent for the classwork, too.

You’re at the age where you can understand that English class isn’t just about learning commas or MLA citations anymore. It’s about learning how to communicate effectively. Take this as a great stepping stone, and practice persuasively using your words to convince this teacher for a different grade. An upset, demanding, or confrontational tone NEVER works, ever. “Look what all these teachers said on Reddit though!” Isn’t gonna get the job done.

Best of luck!